Celtic transfer news: Martin O'Neill's role revealed as Daizen Maeda's failed destination unmasked

It’s been a busy transfer window for Celtic, although this has principally involved the managerial seat vacated by Wilfried Nancy on Monday and filled a few hours later by the returning O’Neill, who has been appointed until the end of the season.

On the player front, Julian Arajuohas joined on loan from Bournemouth. Already notable for being both the first as well as last Nancy signing, the full-back must be wondering what his future holds. He came on in the second-half of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Rangers, a loss that saw Nancy relieved of his duties just over 48 hours later. The 73-year-old O'Neill has taken charge for a second time as manager this season having held the reins following Brendan Rodgers’ departure in October.

“You do know that the young lad has joined us from Bournemouth for a start....Obviously didn't know anything about that,” said O’Neill, when asked about player movement at his latest unveiling press conference. “It is really up to him now to gather a bit of momentum himself. He hasn't played very much football.

“We definitely need to supplement the squad, absolutely no question about that,” he added. “I think that Shaun Maloney, for instance, has been working in the background on certain things. I think he would get to know some players.”

Maloney has been operating as professional player pathway manager at Celtic in addition to stints as O’Neill’s assistant. But the departure of Paul Tisdale, the head of football operations, alongside Nancy has meant the responsibility of player recruitment falling more heavily on Maloney’s shoulders as well as, ultimately, on O’Neill’s.

“It's up to me as quickly as possible, because eventually, eventually, I would like to be sitting here in front of you and saying, ‘Listen, all these players are my choice’," he said. "That's what I'd really like to do, so I don't have a great deal of time.

“If the board were to listen to me, then we would have about 56 players!” he added. “So I will try and narrow it down. I think you'd be aware of what positions we need to strengthen in, and that's what we're going to try and do. It's a difficult window, and in terms of buying players, that'll be difficult. But we do need to supplement the squad.”

O’Neill admitted he will also have to learn more about Daizen Maeda’s mindset. Named footballer of the year by both his fellow professionals and Scottish football writers last season, the Japanese forward has cut an unhappier figure in the current campaign and saw a potential move away scuppered in the summer because Celtic had too little cover.

O’Neill let slip that this potential transfer had been to German giants Wolfsburg. “There's little point in me saying, ‘Oh, he's really happy, he wants to stay here, and then tomorrow morning he's gone, or something like that,” the manager said, adding that he needs to speak to him post-haste. “I'll have a word, or find out what he's thinking, even if it's through his agent, or whatever the case may be. I think there was a bit of disappointment with him, because the move didn't go through. I think it was to Wolfsburg, was it? In August time? Am I telling you something that you didn't know?Possibly? Okay. That never happened!”

O’Neill also revealed that he had been speaking to members of the club's medical team that morning on the subject of longer-term injury absentees, including winger Jota and defender Cameron Carter-Vickers. “I don't see an imminent return for any of the long-term boys for a while,” he said.

Canadian full-back Alistair Johnston is targeting a March return, the manager revealed. “Which is good news, if that’s the case,” he added. “(But) March is a long time for me, so I don’t have that time.”