Celtic

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Celtic have only listed two goalkeepers for their Champions League play-off against LASK.

The Scottish champions have yet to add another keeper to their squad since Denmark international Kasper Schmeichel retired through injury.

It leaves Finland's Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan as their only first-team cover.

Belgium midfielder Arne Engels is listed despite Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expecting the 22-year-old to complete a transfer to West Ham United before the Austrians arrive for Wednesday's first leg in Glasgow.

Alistair Johnston is not listed after the Canada right-back picked up an injury that rules him out for several weeks.

All four summer signings - former Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, the forward signed from Qarabag, winger Haissem Hassan, previously of Real Oviedo, and midfielder Mika Baur, the latest arrival from Paderborn - are listed.

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Celtic midfielder Mika Baur is desperate to showcase his talent on the Champions League stage after joining the Glasgow club.

Baur finally secured a move from German side Paderborn to Celtic and arrived in time for next week's Champions League play-off game against Austrian outfit LASK.

It took a bit of time for the midfielder's move to get over the line but Baur was delighted when it finally did.

"I think it's the best next step," Baur said of his move to Celtic.

"It's a great club, it's a big club. You play in front of a big crowd, you're dominating the league.

"You have the international games, the Champions League matches at night on the big stage. I want to show the people and also myself that I'm ready for that.

"So, yeah, I think it's the right move."

The 22-year-old could make his debut in Saturday's League Cup game against Dundee United and he tells supporters what they can expect from his game.

"I'm really good on the ball," he added.

"I think I developed myself and my game off the ball last season. So, I'm running a lot, I'm fighting, but I want to be a playmaker, I want the ball at my feet.

"That's what they [coaches] expect from me and that's what you guys can also expect that I try my best and leave my heart on the field every time."

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been talking to the media before his side's Premier Sports Cup tie at Dundee United on Saturday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Insists he is "doing fine" after his stay in hospital last week and says it "happens when you get to my age that you might have a few problems".

• Confirms Arne Engels is on the verge of joining West Ham and says he is "naturally disappointed" that the Belgian midfielder is leaving.

• Says it would have been difficult for Engels to turn such a move down and praised the way the 22-year-old handled himself last season after Celtic turned down a bid from Nottingham Forest.

• Alistair Johnston is out for a few weeks and will not be fit again until after the transfer deadline.

• On new signings Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan, O'Neill thinks with time they will do "really well" and have "good talent". Baur is closer to full fitness than Hassan, who had time off after his impressive World Cup campaign with Egypt.

• Says Celtic are "making progress" on further deals and said Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo - who has been linked with a loan move to Parkhead - is a "fine young player" who would provide support to Kieran Tierney.

• Emenalo has a slight injury, but O'Neill expects that to clear up soon.

Celtic fans, we asked for your views after the signing of Mika Baur and your thoughts on the transfer window as a whole.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Well, by all accounts that is four class players Celtic have brought in. A big improvement on the last few transfer windows on quality signings. So just a cover for left-back now, Kieran Tierney needs a back-up. If one Greg Taylor wants to come back I would be well happy with that.

George: Four massive signings for us, Can't rest on our laurels though, let's kick on Champions League wise and get back to a semblance of the club that we are.

Jim: Another good midfielder in the door, hopefully he won't be the last. The Celtic strategy is always to drag transfers out and it's tiresome for the support. I know that transfer fees and salaries are ridiculous, but if we want to progress, we have to get real.

Andy: Baur could be a good replacement for Arne Engels. We need to find one for Callum McGregor as he's coming to the end of his career. Great to see new signings but I'm concerned there's been no strengthening of the defence. If Alistair Johnston goes and KT gets injured we're short of cover.

Patrick: This is a clever piece of business with Arne Engels possibly moving on in the near future, it shows the club are going in the right direction.

Liam: We have finally started signing players with the profile required to drive the club forward. Not every transfer works out but we are giving ourselves a chance with these four signings.

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Celtic are tracking Slovan Liberec attacking midfielder Ermin Mahmic, with the 21-year-old Bosnian in line to be the biggest sale ever from a Czech club. Infotbal via Scottish Sun, external

Lech Poznan winger Patrik Walemark, 24, is being chased by Celtic and Dutch club Groningen. Polska Sportowy via Daily Record - subscription required, external

West Ham are closing in on the signing of Celtic midfielder Arne Engels with a fee in excess of £20m agreed. Alex Crook on X, external

Celtic are in advanced talks over a loan deal for 18-year-old Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo. Anthony Joseph on X, external

Celtic retain interest in £6m-rated Niko Sigur from Hajduk Split, along with Gvidas Ginetis of Torino, while Hibernian's Miguel Chaiwa is another midfield option. Daily Record - subscription required, external

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Newly-signed winger Haissem Hassan says he grew up watching Celtic play in the Champions League and is determined to make the club a regular presence at the top level of European competition.

The 24-year-old, who impressed this summer at the World Cup for Egypt, has joined Martin O'Neill's side as the Champions League play-off first leg with LASK looms next Wednesday.

Hassan, whose arrival was followed by fellow new recruit Mika Baur, said through a translator: "Everything is about winning at Celtic, we have to win every game.

"Being in Europe and in the Champions League, because I think Celtic is a club that belongs in the Champions League.

"I've seen them growing up on the TV, and I think we need to go in the Champions League every season.

"I'm here to help the team win trophies, I'm going in the Champions League every year and make the club better season after season."

Hassan has played for clubs in Spain and France, where he was born, and switched his international allegiance to Egypt earlier this year.

The winger is confident he will be able to adapt quickly to the rigours of Scottish football.

"Scottish football might be a bit more tough, but I think at the end that will make me a more complete player," he said.

"I've already done it in France and Spain, so I think I can adapt here as well. At the end, that will be the best for me as well.

"I also play in Africa with Egypt, and that's another style as well. There is no problem for that."

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Midfielder Mika Baur is thrilled to join Celtic after fellow German and ex-Parkhead winger Nicolas Kuhn gave the club a glowing recommendation.

Baur arrives on a four-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months, to become the club's fourth signing of the summer window.

"It's absolutely the right move," the 22-year-old said.

"It's a great club and I've heard incredible things about the fans. Celtic are the champions. I want to win something, and I think I'm in the right place for it.

"I'm in the same agency as Nicolas Kuhn so I called him to ask a couple of questions and he was so positive. He said, if you have the chance, just do it.

"I've had a good pre-season with good matches and tough training sessions, everything. So I'm in good shape and I'm ready to go."

Celtic fans, what do you make of Baur's arrival and the club's business so far this summer? Have your say via this link

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Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has provided a positive update on his health after returning to work earlier this week.

The 74-year-old spent a night in hospital after undergoing a "small procedure" last week.

He missed Celtic's Scottish Premiership victory over Kilmarnock last weekend, but delivered a pre-match team talk at the team hotel.

When asked how he was feeling on Celtic TV, O'Neill said: "Much better, than last week anyway.

"Yeah, a couple of ailments rolled into one, unfortunately, but I'm getting there, which is good news."

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Manager Martin O'Neill is backing new arrival Haissem Hassan to "glow" and create "havoc" at Celtic, while the Egypt winger has described his move from Real Oviedo as the "perfect moment".

The 24-year-old signed a four-year deal on Thursday, with the option of a further year.

O'Neill revealed that Oviedo rejected an approach in January, with Hassan now ready to link up with fellow summer recruits Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran.

"When he gets to see the surrounds here, I just think he'll glow," O'Neill told club media.

"People start to think about the number of things that players can't do, and I think you have to stay more in the positive of what players can do.

"Going past players is a sort of a dying art, which is really almost unforgivable in football. And that's what fans get excited about.

"And to tell you the truth, so do fellow players. They think if he can take people on and then cause some sort of havoc, make some goals, maybe score the occasional one as well too - all of that adds to the mix."

Hassan, who is left-footed but often plays on the right, described himself as "a skilful winger who likes one-versus-one situations and combining with my team-mates".

Having played in France and Spain, he is looking forward to a new challenge with the Scottish champions.

"For me, football is all about enjoyment, and my first job is to bring enjoyment to the fans who come to the stadium," he added.

"I'm still only 24 and I have a lot to improve on, but I hope I can show the best of myself.

"With Celtic's history, all the great players, the fans and the atmosphere, I think this is the perfect moment for me.

"At Celtic, everything is about winning and that's what I want."

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Celtic are keen on landing Chelsea left back Landon Emenalo on loan, with the 18-year-old given a tour of the club's Lennoxtown training complex yesterday. Scottish Sun, external

Canada and Hajduk Split right-back Niko Sigur, 22, is back on the radar of Celtic. Daily Record - subscription required, external

Celtic are closing in on the signing of Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, 24. STV , external

West Ham are ready to return to Celtic with a increased offer for Arne Engels, guaranteeing £25m and including promotion bonuses. Alan Nixon on Patreon - subscription required, external

Everton are still "keeping tabs" on Alistair Johnston despite recently cooling their interest in the Celtic right-back due to the £15m asking price. Football Insider, external

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

This won't be a popular view among sections of the Celtic support, but I wonder if the club's calm, cautious outlook in an ever-frenzied football transfer market is, after all, working out fruitfully.

Quality over quantity is the mantra, but with the signing deadline looming for next week's Champions League play-off first leg with LASK Linz, has the Parkhead outfit done enough to maximise their chances of going through to the lucrative main phase of European football's elite competition?

The short answer to that is no, not yet. The high-profile, high-cost arrivals of Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran have added goals, movement and excitement to a front line that was dreadfully stale for most of last season.

Their input will be crucial in the two matches against the Austrians. They can't, however, do it all themselves. They need better service, which is why Celtic have been trawling Europe for wingers.

Were they finally to get a deal over the line for Egypt international Haissem Hassan, they could start to argue that real progress is being made and that a very decent-looking squad is being assembled.

The pace of signings may not be to the liking of many in the support base, but the complexities of international transfers, and the bloated prices clubs quote to suitors like Celtic who are known to be fairly cash-rich, means certain deals effectively become non-starters.

The interesting one for me this calendar year is the curious case of Fares Ghedjemis. Heavily linked with a move to Celtic in January before deciding to stay and help Frosinone's successful Serie A promotion push.

The multi-million-pound valuation put on his head by his current employers, however, seems at odds with his current status in the game.

Yes, the 23-year-old is a current Algeria international, who even played a few minutes in the recent World Cup. He has terrific potential, clearly. Enough to justify the apparent eight-figure cheque his current employers want for his signature?

This, remember, for a player whose career so far can boast just half a dozen top-flight games anywhere? His trajectory has mainly been through the French and Italian lower leagues and, while there's clearly a good player there, the telephone-number figures associated with him seem somewhat premature.

The smart suits at Frosinone paid approximately £300,000 to take him from Rouen just over two years ago - an excellent piece of work which should be roundly applauded.

It would appear, though, that they're after at least 30 times that now. I've heard of hyper-inflation in Italy, but no wonder Celtic, and others, are baulked at the asking price.

If Hassan arrives in Glasgow's east end, as is now largely anticipated, the Ghedjemis thing surely becomes moot.

They're not going to spring for two expensive wingers on top of the forwards they've already recruited - not unless Michael Nicholson and co take a flamethrower to their previous policies.

I only use the Algerian as an example of the perils of the current market. The clamour for signings, and for money to be spent, has to be balanced against securing value for your investment.

If the calm, collected approach secures Hassan for a sum and a contract Celtic are comfortable with, does the delay in his arrival really matter all that much?

What the supporters can legitimately criticise the club for is the failure to bolster other elements of the squad. Two summer signings by (at the time of writing) 12 August is pretty paltry, especially when you look at the volume of business being done elsewhere.

Martin O'Neill has been openly asking for reinforcements for a good while now. They may be in the pipeline. A return for Greg Taylor from Greece? Midfielder Mika Baur from Germany?

This could yet turn into the best window Celtic have had since Ange Postecoglou's first season in 2021-22.

If the work behind the scenes is going to plan, the under-fire board may well be able to prove that slow and steady sometimes does win the race.

Egypt winger Haissem Hassan has completed a medical in London before his £9m move from Real Oviedo to Celtic. (Anthony Joseph on X)

Torino want in excess of £8m for Celtic target Gvidas Gineitis and have rejected an offer for the midfielder from RB Salzburg. (Daily Record)

Everton have not given up on landing Celtic right-back Alastair Johnston, with their initial move stalled by a £5m difference in valuation between the clubs. (iPaper - subscription required)

Celtic and Ipswich Town are the clubs interested in Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope, who has been told he can leave the club this summer. (Daily Express)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Tino
Fan writer

All the talk right now surrounds the imminent arrival of Haissem Hassan, with the Egypt winger reportedly undergoing his Celtic medical.

If everything goes to plan, Hassan will become the latest exciting addition to Martin O'Neill's squad alongside Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh.

Three players alone don't necessarily prove anything, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore what looks like a definite shift in Celtic's recruitment strategy.

Compare the situation to this time last year. By early August, Celtic had spent around £1.5m on Shin Yamada and £250,000 on Hayato Inamura - two players who could firmly be placed in the 'project' category.

Neither arrived looking ready to make an immediate impact, and ultimately neither move worked out. They weren't isolated examples either.

Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Marco Tilio, Odin Thiago Holm and even Gustaf Lagerbielke all arrived for fees somewhere between £1m and £3m in recent times.

Too many of those deals felt like speculative punts rather than signings designed to immediately improve the starting XI.

Celtic were stockpiling them and that feels like the biggest difference this summer. Hogh hasn't come to Glasgow to sit on the bench. Neither has Duran, nor will Hassan.

For too long Celtic have been guilty of bloating the squad with players who might develop into something rather than concentrating resources on those capable of making a difference immediately.

Every now and again, of course, that approach can uncover a gem. The £1.7m paid for Benjamin Nygren, for example, now looks like particularly clever business.

Far more often, however, you end up with players effectively training for a living at Celtic without ever seriously threatening the starting XI.

There's another issue with that too. A first-team squad packed with players who know they have virtually no chance of playing must have an effect on the training environment, consciously or otherwise.

In contrast, if Hogh's breathing down your neck, or Duran is threatening your place, or Hassan arrives ready to do the same, standards rise naturally.

So while the slow nature of this transfer window has been incredibly frustrating at times, Celtic finally appear to be adding players O'Neill genuinely wants to use.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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Kasper Hogh's impressive first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock drew comparisons to a litany of Celtic's most prestigious forwards.

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter, Tom English, said the Denmark striker, who was making just his second appearance for Martin O'Neill's side, represented "the most proven goalscorer Celtic have signed since Chris Sutton".

Current manager O'Neill signed Sutton from Chelsea in what was then the club's record outlay, with Hogh their current biggest fee.

However, the man who partnered Henrik Larsson for years in Glasgow isn't so sure about the comparison.

"Tom does talk a lot of rubbish at times, and that's clearly evident there," Sutton said on the Monday Night Club.

"It's an interesting one, if I chuck a few strikers who came after me out: John Hartson was a phenomenal finisher, Moussa Dembele was an excellent young player, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Gary Hooper was a good goalscorer, Odsonne Edouard had a really good spell.

"Look, the bottom line is Hogh has been in for two games, and after the first game against Dundee he missed a couple of chances and guess what, people were doubting him.

"He got his hat-trick against a kamikaze Kilmarnock, I've got to say they did make it easy for Celtic.

"I was pleased for him, he seems to be a really strong character, he's got a lot about him."

Hogh, who arrived this summer alongside Qarabag foward Camilo Duran, are the club's only two incomings so far, but Sutton reckons filling the void up top was crucial.

Daizen Maeda has left for Ipswich and the club have been without a recognised central striker since Adam Idah's move to Swansea a year ago.

"I think people forget Celtic didn't have a proper decent centre forward last season and this is a guy who has the physicality, he led the line really well against Kilmarnock at the weekend, it wasn't just about his goals," Sutton added.

"I like the look of him from what I saw at Bodo/Glimt, but it's early days at Celtic for him. It was good he got his goals, but what was more impressive really was the way he held things up, linked things, and looked like he knew what he was doing.

"I'll repeat myself, Celtic won the league last season without a proper striker; they've now got one, possibly two, that's good news for Celtic."

Celtic remain hopeful of landing Real Oviedo and Egypt winger Haissem Hassan, 24, this week but have been priced out of a move for Fares Ghedjemis, 23, of Frosinone. (Record - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Kasper Hogh loved scoring his first goal in front of the Celtic supporters at Rugby Park on Sunday.

The striker scored his first, as well as his second and third goal as he netted a first-half hat-trick in the Parkhead club's 5-1 Premiership victory at Kilmarnock.

And the Dane is quickly becoming a fan favourite, even if he couldn't really make out the supporters chanting his name from the stands in Ayrshire.

"I try to recognise it, but I'm not the best at Scottish," Hogh said.

"But I hear they shouted some of my name, so I smiled on the pitch when I heard it.

"It's a massive support. When I heard they were screaming and also when we scored the other goals, I was just so happy. And you could see it on the pitch."

The 25-year-old scored two headers from close-range either side of a first-time finish from Benjamin Nygren's pass.

And Hogh was full of praise for his new Celtic teammates.

"There were some great assists from the boys," he added.

"The first one was almost in the goal, so I just had to be there.

"They are some good footballers. And they also have to learn me, like my patterns, so it's just nice that I can be there and touch it in the goal."

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse Kasper Hogh's first half hat-trick against Kilmarnock and discuss what the striker brings to Celtic.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian

Made eight saves as Hibs held on for another win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Kanayo Megwa - Hibernian

Played a big part in a strong, steady victorious showing at Ibrox.

Auston Trusty - Celtic

Superb block on the line as the American kept things tight at the back for Celtic.

Owen Bevan - Dundee

You don't have to be called Bevan to do well for Dundee, but it clearly helps. Strong showing at the back.

Emmanuel Longelo - Motherwell

More often than not makes an impact down the left for the Steelmen.

Joe Bevan - Dundee

Looked impressive at times against Celtic and took it to a new level against Aberdeen with a goal and assist.

Tom Renaud - Hearts

His laser-guided rocket reminded me of Ally McCoist at Euro '96. To be fair, Renaud's was even better.

Killian Phillips - St Mirren

Suddenly the main man for the Buddies. Loved his no-nonsense one-step penalty.

Josh McPake - Hearts

Scored a fine goal, linking up with Claudio Braga. Shining on the Tynecastle stage after his heroics for St Johnstone.

Kasper Hogh - Celtic

An ebullient, winning personality and the Celtic fans have a new hero after the £11m man netted a hat-rick and looked an all round class act.

Claudio Braga - Hearts

Ran out of superlatives for his contribution last season, and was back to his best against Dundee United with a goal and two assists.