THE CELTIC squad has emerged from the summer transfer window in a WEAKER position that when it started, according to a former Hoops hero.
And he has blasted club chiefs for allowing it to happen, particularly on the back of their run to the Champions League knockout phase last season.
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The Parkhead outfit raked in a significant £17million fee for Nicolas Kuhn and managed to sell off fringe players such as Gustaf Lagerbielke, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Luis Palma and Marco Tilio.
While Celtic signed two wingers in the form of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti for £4.5m and £5.2m respectively to try and offset the departure of Kuhn, striker Adam Idah left on deadline day for £6m with no obvious replacement.
The club made a push for Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg but because they waited until the final few days of the window, it meant they had no plan B to turn to when he decided to return to Ajax instead at the last minute.
That, and the fact many fans feel Kyogo Furuhashi hasn’t been adequately replaced since January, has led to growing concerns amongst the Hoops faithful who in recent weeks have voiced their anger at the board.
And former Celtic striker Chris Sutton shares their frustrations.
He described this summer‘s window as the most remarkable he had EVER seen, and says it has led to a feeling of “utter deflation”.
Sutton tweeted: “The most remarkable window of all time. Celtic have come out of it weaker!
“At least Celtic are doing everything they can for there to be a title race this season…
“Going into a season with great expectation and excitement after a few weeks the feeling now is utter deflation.”
In total, Celtic signed 11 new players this summer including Tounekti and Balikwisha, who were the final two additions.
Kieran Tierney returned to the club on a free transfer and the Hoops brought in more defenders in the shape of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Marcelo Saracchi on loan.
Goalkeeper Ross Doohan was another who returned to Parkhead after a few years away, also coming as a free agent.
Celtic paid Fulham a compensation fee for young starlet Callum Osmand, and around £50,000 for Morton youth star Isaac English.
Benjamin Nygren cost around £1.8m, Shin Yamada came in for £1.5m and they snapped up Hayato Inamura for around £250,000.
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