Celtic

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Has Celtic's transfer hesitancy been "over-exaggerated"?

Having spent around £3m on new arrivals this summer, the board's transfer gamble will be decided tonight in the Champions League play-off second leg against Kairat in Kazakhstan where a £40m prize of league-phase qualification awaits the winners.

"At the minute I think it's a small problem," said former Celtic forward Cillian Sheridan.

"I think it can become a big gamble to not fully invest into the squad before these qualifiers. But if Celtic could come out from the game this evening and they've qualified then the board can go and spend.

"It looks like there are some players coming in between now and over the next few days. But I just can't help but feel there is a little bit of over-exaggeration of what's actually the issues that are going on at Celtic."

Having failed to break down obdurate Kairat in last week's drab goalless draw at Parkhead, Celtic's hopes now rest on becoming the first Scottish team to win in Kazakhstan.

"I think Celtic go through, they should have too much," added Sheridan on the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"They'll know from last week's game exactly what they're up against. They know what needs to be done better, albeit they'd created a few chances where they'll think they probably deserved a little bit more than a 0-0.

"So I quite fancy Celtic to go through, given also what's at stake."

Celtic could miss out on Feyenoord winger Calvin Stengs, 26, unless they accelerate their interest. (Football Insider), external

Celtic are reportedly closing in on deals for Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, 24, and Boca Juniors left-back Marcelo Saracchi, 27. (Sun), external

Saracchi is heading to Glasgow after Celtic reach agreement with Boca Juniors to greenlight the move. (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Brendan Rodgers talks to the media before the second leg of his side's Champions League play-off against Kairat in Almaty on Tuesday.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Almaty

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Brendan Rodgers has dismissed any suggestion Celtic had underestimated Kairat.

The sides drew 0-0 in Glasgow last week and the winner of Tuesday's second leg in Kazakhstan will join Europe's elite in the league phase.

"We always respect every opponent," said Rodgers. "We knew they were going to be a good side and hard to beat.

"We know they are really hard to beat, hard to break down and it's up to us to impose our game. We never disrespect or underestimate any team.

"We have to play our game, play the football that we've played in a lot of the league games this year. If we take that into the game, then we've got a fantastic chance of qualification."

Rodgers also insists "there's no excuse for us" regarding the arduous 3,500-mile journey.

"They had the same journey going the other way so that won't be an excuse for us.

"We have to perform and that's all we're focused on. I'm excited for us to play in a pressure game, knowing that we have to win. That's what we want."

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Marco Tilio has joined Austrian side Rapid Vienna on a four-year deal, ending an underwhelming two-year stay with Celtic.

The Australia winger joined Celtic in June 2023 from Melbourne City for a reported seven-figure fee, but only made two competitive appearances for the club.

He returned to Melbourne City on loan for the 2024-25 season and helped them win the A-League Championship.

Tilio, 24, says he is looking forward to a fresh start.

"I'm happy that the transfer has now worked out after lengthy discussions and that I can be here in Vienna," he said.

"I'm really looking forward to introducing myself to the Rapid fans at the stadium soon and hope to get started quickly and play my first game here."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Almaty

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking to the media before the second leg of his side's Champions League play-off against Kairat Almaty on Tuesday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Rodgers insists there was no element of Celtic underestimating Kairat before last week's goalless draw, saying "they are a tough team to break down".

• He insists there is no requirement to explain the enormity of the game to the players - "they know what is at stake".

• Says his team cannot become too fixated on the end goal because "if you think so much of the consequence it can paralyse you". He has told his players to focus on their own performance and "imposing" their game plan.

• On the long distance travelled to Almaty, Rodgers says there will be "no excuses" from Celtic - he points out how well Kairat coped in the first leg. "We feel fine and we have to perform."

• Rodgers hopes to have some positive news regarding transfers on their return to Glasgow - "I think by the time we get back we will be close to one or two things."

• Team news: Adam Idah has travelled with the squad and is in contention, but Auston Trusty is still unavailable.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Almaty

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With few, if any, direct flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan from the UK, this was always going to be a long and tiring journey for any Celtic fan looking to follow their team as they seek another Champions League campaign.

However, there are various routes to be found. Frankfurt from either Edinburgh or Glasgow is one of those routes before flying direct to Almaty with a total flight time of around ten hours.

I travelled from Edinburgh via Istanbul and after a three-hour stop in Turkey, I was able to jump on a direct flight straight to Almaty. The total travel time was around 15 hours with arrival at 03:40 local time.

Almaty is a fairly modern city, with temperatures during the day in the mid-30s. It explains why kick-off for the second leg is at 21:45 local time to ensure the heat will have relented somewhat.

The stadium capacity is around 23,000 and tickets were snapped up in just over an hour given the enormity of this game for Kairat.

Only a few hundred fans have made the near 8,500 miles round trip from Glasgow. It is a long way to come but well worth it if Celtic are to make it through to the Champions League proper.

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Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith analyse Celtic's start to the season, their performance against Livingston on Saturday and a lack of transfer business.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Almaty

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Kairat Almaty hope to add to the "negative atmosphere around Celtic" but head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin is expecting a strong response from Brendan Rodgers' side.

Celtic are in Kazakhstan for the second leg of their Champions League play-off after a 0-0 draw in Glasgow, during which fans vented frustration over the tepid display and a lack of significant transfer activity over the summer.

"Celtic players may have underestimated us at home," said Urazbakhtin.

"Now they will look at our game in a different way. I think they will have a different motivation and attitude.

"Yes, there is a negative atmosphere around Celtic but I think this is a team of high-level players. I think they are used to dealing with such issues.

"They understand that everything depends on them. We also think that everything depends on us.

"I don't think there is a bigger pressure on Celtic than on our team. We will try to get to the group stage. Our task is to make it happen, to do everything we can."

Kairat, aiming to become just the second Kazakh side to get through Champions League qualifying, will be without goalkeeper Alexander Zarutsky, who was injured at Celtic Park, and suspended Chelsea-bound midfielder Dastan Satpayev.

No Scottish team has won in Kazakhstan before.

The best Celtic have done is a draw with Astana, while they lost to the same opponents and Shakhter Karagandy, although they progressed in each tie.

Aberdeen were beaten by Kairat 10 years ago, while there was humbling 3-0 loss for the national side in 2019.

"It's a story that the Scottish teams did not play so well here," said Urazbakhtin. "But it's all in the past.

"You need to live in the present. We understand that everything will be decided tomorrow."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Much-changed Celtic swept aside Livingston on Saturday and have two players in my team of the week as a result.

Dane Murray was certainly not overworked but the youngster is taking his opportunity and looks assured in the starting XI.

Benjamin Nygren delivered his best performance in a Celtic shirt.

All the talk might be of Celtic transfer disappointment thus far but the Sweden international looks like another shrewd acquisition by the club.

Watch highlights as much-changed Celtic dispatch Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha was given an emotional send-off by fans and his Royal Antwerp team-mates on Sunday as the winger gets set to join Celtic in a £5m deal. (Scottish Sun), external

Bolton Wanderers are not giving up on top transfer target Johnny Kenny and are planning one final bid to try and get a deal over the line for the Celtic striker. (Alan Nixon / Patreon), external

Jamie Vardy, linked with Celtic, is "an incredible striker that would make any team better", says the Scottish champions' goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who played with the 38-year-old at Leicester City. (Scottish Sun), external

Leicester City and Pisa lead the way in the race to sign Celtic-linked Calvin Stengs from Feyenoord. (De Telegraaf - in Dutch), external

We asked for your views on Celtic's 3-0 win against Livingston.

Here's what some of you said:

Anon: An excellent result considering the circumstances, we need to keep our focus on the domestic league and cups; here's hoping for a similar result on Tuesday, we should be capable of achieving a result in Kazakhstan!

Chris: Brendan Rodgers now has a dilemma on his hands. He rested eight players in order to prepare for Tuesday, however he needs to give serious consideration whether to offer starting positions to either Shin Yamada or Johnny Kenny up front, both offer more than Adam Idah. Yang Hyun-Jun offers more than James Forrest and should start on Tuesday. Dane Murray should also partner Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defence as Liam Scales does not fill me with confidence.

Ray: Improved showing against Livingston with Benjamin Nygren stepping up and Hayato Inamura showing he has something to offer despite missing out on the Champions League squad. It's win or bust now on Tuesday.

Denis: When you're up against a team that's not interested in actually playing football, it will be hard for even the most skilled players. It's all about wearing them down and we had the skill.

A much-changed Celtic side delivered the perfect Champions League send-off, as Brendan Rodgers' side head to Kazakhstan in search of a place in the Champions League.

Three goals in 20 second-half minutes blew away Livingston's stubborn resistance, with new Swedish signing Benjamin Nygren grabbing a double before Irish striker Johnny Kenny smashed home his first goal at Celtic Park.

Read the match report here

Have your say on the game

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "Very pleased. I thought it was a really good performance.

"We should've been ahead by half-time. Our patience was important. The crowd could see what we were trying to do. The second half, they get their reward for that.

"I thought that Benji [Nygren] was the standout player. It's why we brought him to the club. He wants to score goals, he can score goals."

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Rapid Vienna have renegotiated terms on a permanent £1.3m deal for Celtic winger Marco Tilio. (Sky Sports), external

Celtic representatives are in Belgium to conclude a deal for Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha. (Sacha Tavolieri on X), external

Royal Antwerp head coach Stef Wils admits he is surprised that Celtic target Michel Ange-Balikwisha is still at the club. (Daily Record), external

A Dundee move for Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, 18, is in the balance after an injury to Alistair Johnston. (The Courier - subscription required), external

Plymouth Argyle have ended their interest in taking Celtic centre-back Stephen Welsh on loan after signing Mathias Ross. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

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Celtic have lost Alistair Johnston (hamstring) for about 12 weeks while Auston Trusty (foot) is also ruled out.

Adam Idah (knee) is a doubt while Jota (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Livingston left-back Adam Montgomery has recovered from a muscle injury but cannot face his parent club.

Danny Wilson and Graham Carey remain out alongside longer-term absentees Cammy Kerr and Aidan Denholm while Cristian Montano is pushing to be available.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is urging supporters to be "patient" amid a lack of transfer business.

The Parkhead club have added seven new faces this summer but only two - Benjamin Nygren and Kieran Tierney - have become regulars in the starting XI.

Right-back Alistair Johnston is now out for three months with a hamstring injury suffered in the 0-0 draw with Kairat Almaty in the first leg of the Champions League play-off on Wednesday night.

Manager Brendan Rodgers also has fitness concerns over striker Adam Idah and centre-back Auston Trusty and admits he has played forward Daizen Maeda "a little bit more than we would have liked".

Schmeichel said: "Our biggest strength is our support.

"The passion of the fans here is unrivalled and I understand their frustration but what you've got to realise is football is not as simple and spending and buying.

"I have every faith the club is doing everything they can to progress and strengthen but football isn't that easy.

"I understand the impatience of it. We all want instant success, we all want things here and now but for us as players we've got to go and do our job.

"When I look at the quality in the dressing room I think we've got more than enough. Any additions that do or don't come that's up to them [the board]. I have full confidence in them.

"There's a reason Celtic have been successful for such a long period of time because they do know what they're doing. I think a bit of patience and we'll see."