Celtic's R-word hogs narrative as Martin O'Neill explains London trip, 'diligent' men and his ideal world

No, not Rangers. Not yet, anyway - although if Celtic don’t get their recruitment right, their Old Firm neighbours may become even more a problem.

While eight new recruits have rocked up at Ibrox, so far only two have come in at Celtic. Right enough, they are big purchases in striker Kasper Hogh for £11 million and Camilo Duran for £6m. Quality over quantity? If only it was that straightforward a narrative.

Celtic have dithered in previous transfer window and last year felt the repercussions when they failed to reach the Champions League and so nearly relinquished their Premiership crown to Hearts. Supporters hoped this transfer window would be different, but there are grumbles. The feeling is Celtic are not yet ready to compete on all fronts - especially with a European play-off on the horizon.

While Hogh and Duran have come in, 14 players from last term’s squad have departed. The likes of flops Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu don’t leave much of a void - but the talisman has exited, with Daizen Maeda sold for around £10m.

And more first-teamers could follow. Midfielder Arne Engels is wanted by West Ham, whose opening bid was too low, while Everton boss David Moyes called his Celtic counterpart Martin O’Neill to politely inform him that he likes right-back Alistair Johnston. If an offer hasn’t landed, it is not far away.

Celtic’s league campaign begins against Dundee on Monday and while those in place should have enough to take down the rank and file of Scottish football, it is seeing off Rangers (plus Hearts) and winning the Champions League play-off in little over a fortnight’s time that will be tougher.

O’Neill often jokes about he worries constantly and tried to shrug off the inevitable line of questioning on incomings, or the lack of it, during his pre-match press conference - the first of many this season.

“I've got plenty of confidence that we can get the players in,” said O’Neill. “Obviously, we're hoping that. It's not easy. If some good players go, you're trying to replace them. We're a selling club because of the finance. The finance here in Scotland is just not there. And I think, way back 25 years ago, when I was able to sign the likes of Sutton and Hartson, I think the gap between that and an English Premier League wasn't as great.

"I could be able to get those players up. Actually, they wanted to come. But it is difficult. And the difficulty is letting some of your best players go and trying to replace them with, obviously, less revenue and trying to make them as good or, eventually, better than what you let go. That, eventually, has its problems."

O’Neill talks to Celtic transfer targets

Celtic are trying. They want Paderborn’s 22-year-old midfielder Mika Baur but the German club want more than the £4m reportedly offered from Parkhead. Over in Italy, they are negotiating with Frosinone for winger Fares Ghedjemis, who could cost £8m. Around £17m has already been spent, and Celtic - always frugal - and clearly treading the line between being held over a barrel and getting what they need.

O’Neill is playing his part. He travelled to London to meet Hogh and confirmed that he has held conversations with other players he wants to bring in.

“Yes, we actually have spoken to other targets,” he said. “There is a definite strong willingness for players to want to come to the football club, which is very encouraging.

"Some other ones who might be using you to try and force a move into the Premier League or something, fine. You can see through that quite quickly. But at the end of it all, yes, I'm hopeful because I think there's a strong willingness for deals to be done.

"We're working with things. Some things we thought that we were well down the line with have been thwarted by things that were actually outside our control, believe it or not. I won't go into detail.

"There's a couple of things that are progressing pretty well as we speak. So, I'm hopeful. If you said to me, at 14 out and we've got half that number in... if half that number are going to have a real impact on the football club over the season, I would be satisfied with that."

In the immediate term, preparing for life after Engels and Johnston is becoming a reality. Engels almost left in the winter for Nottingham Forest and there is an acceptance he is not long for Celtic’s world. And after a strong performance at the World Cup with Canada, Johnston unsurprisingly has admirers. O’Neill would like both for the Champions League tilt - but is realistic too.

"In an ideal world, I would love to do that,” he said. “I don't know what might happen. At this minute, that's the thing that was in front of me for the West Ham thing. So, we're a long way away from that. But things can happen very, very quickly. That would be something.

"One part of me is trying to cater for players possibly leaving. It is pressing because we'd like to have as strong a squad as possible for those Champions League games."

O’Neill was asked if there is a succession plan for Johnston, as many believe Anthony Ralston is a back-up and Colby Donovan still a teenager. "In fairness to the recruitment side, they are very diligent,” added O’Neill. “Seriously, they are. There's options. Some that might be well and truly beyond us, might be silly, there might be more interest in trying to keep a player here rather than develop the option. But overall the recruitment staff hand me information all of the time. It's collaborative, whereas 25 years ago it wasn't. I just did it myself.”

O’Neill is having to move the times. So are Celtic as they strive to get their business in the transfer market spot-on.