Celtic's Europa League draw, transfer links, and manager Martin O'Neill's call for new signings are the main talking points this week. The club sits top of the Premiership but must regroup after a painful European exit.
Who will Celtic face in the Europa League?
Celtic learned their Europa League opponents this week, according to the Independent. They will host French side Marseille and travel to face Portuguese giants Benfica in the league phase. The draw also includes fixtures against Ferencvaros, Union SG, Celta Vigo, Omonia, and Besiktas.
This European campaign follows Celtic's shock elimination from the Champions League play-offs by LASK. Dropping into the Europa League marks the second consecutive season they have missed out on the premier club competition. The league phase matches are scheduled to begin in mid-September, with the full fixture list available on our fixtures page.
Is Niko Sigur joining Celtic?
Hajduk Split boss Gonzalez Garcia confirmed that Celtic target Niko Sigur has likely played his last game for the Croatian club, as reported by the Daily Record. The 22-year-old Canadian midfielder gave an emotional farewell in the dressing room after helping his side qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Sigur is reportedly keen on a move to Celtic, but the club faces competition from Genk and Toulouse. Genk made a £3.5 million bid this week, while Toulouse's offer was around £2.5 million. The versatile player's potential arrival would add depth to a squad that Martin O'Neill has openly stated needs reinforcement.
What did Martin O'Neill say after the Champions League exit?
Manager Martin O'Neill took full responsibility for Celtic's "abject failure" in losing a four-goal lead to LASK, as analysed by Chris Sutton in the Daily Record. O'Neill admitted his team were "a million miles away from the finished article" with just days remaining in the transfer window.
Former Celtic striker Sutton argued the club was mismanaged in selling key players like Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda before the crucial qualifiers. He pointed out that captain Callum McGregor's admission that the team looked "scared" was a damning indictment. O'Neill has since stressed the immediate need to show character in domestic matches.
What is the latest on Celtic's transfer plans?
Speaking ahead of this weekend's match, O'Neill confirmed Celtic are actively trying to sign players before the deadline. "We’re still trying to get some players in," he said. "We’ll need a few to supplement the squad. I am hoping we can get some people in before the transfer deadline."
This urgency comes despite Celtic's strong start to the Premiership season, where they have six points from two games. They have scored six goals and conceded just one, giving them a commanding goal difference of +5. Their next test is a home match against Falkirk, who currently sit 10th in the table. You can follow the team's progress in the standings.
How does Celtic move forward from here?
The immediate focus shifts to consolidating their domestic lead while integrating any new signings. The Europa League presents a fresh target, but O'Neill's squad must first navigate a packed schedule. With the transfer window closing soon, activity at Celtic Park is expected to intensify as they seek the tools needed to compete on multiple fronts. The current squad details are always available on our squad page.
