Celtic now targeting quality over quantity, it’s exactly what the Celtic support has been calling for, but it needs to be a regular occurrence…
Welcome to Celtic Haissem Hassan, photo Celtic FC
Hot on the heels of the Haissem Hassan signing, Celtic are close to completing the signing of Germany midfielder Mika Baur.
Laurin Curda of SC Paderborn (R) celebrates the first goal with Mika Baur of SC Paderborn (L) during the 2. Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn 07 and FC Schalke 04 at Benteler Arena on April 26, 2026 in Paderborn, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Combined, Hassan and Mika Baur are reckoned to have cost the club a whopping £17 million combined, if expected bonuses are taken into consideration.
Camilo Duran of Celtic Celtic v Dundee, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock
Add to that the combined fees of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, then the club have sanctioned a mega £30 million plus on just four players.
All four players will naturally be seen as automatic first team picks, with both Duran and Hogh having proven their class already.
9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kasper Hogh of Celtic celebrates with the match ball after his hat trick. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou
An end to the punts and project days
It’s been a refreshing change for Celtic supporters, to see the club actually target and recruit proven quality players rather than punts and projects.
For years we’ve all been left frustrated as the club opted to pursue wing and a prayer signings with a low percentage strike rate. We spend a similar amount on a minibus full of new signings in the summer of 2023 and only Yang remains from that window.
In other words, players with limited experience, and ones who ultimately fail to make the grade at Celtic in the long term, and create all sorts of issues with management having to deal with a bloated squad and directors having to organise loan deals elsewhere to mitigate the losses.
Lessons learned at Celtic
Now it seems they’ve learned their lesson, with proven Champions League goal-scorers Camilo Duran, and Kasper Hogh being recruited to add some much needed class to our forward line.
Haissem Hassan of Egypt competes for the ball against Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Tagliafico of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Haissem Hassan, who proved his class in the recent World Cup finals is another who will add some much needed quality on the right wing.
Mika Baur has the least experience of the other aforementioned signings, but being a stand out in the German second tier, as well as being a German under 21 internationalist, he’s quite a coup for the club and will add an much needed dimension to our static midfield.
Paderborn, Home Deluxe Arena, 25.05.26, GER, Herren, R, SC Paderborn 07 – VfL Wolfsburg Bild: Mika BAUR Paderborn DFL . Photo IMAGO / Ulrich Hufnagel
It now seems that the club are prioritising quality over quantity, and it’s been a long time coming.
A word of caution amid the optimism
A word of caution though, as we can point back to 2024 when Brendan Rodgers was allowed to splash out £26 million on the likes of Arne Engels, Adam Idah, and Auston Trusty, only to be subjected to the boards diabolical recruitment process, or should I say the lack of recruitment the following summer.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill arrives at the ground ahead of kick off in the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
It has to be a regular occurrence
That ultimately resulted in an elite manager like Brendan Rodgers walking away last autumn. Martin O’Neill may get what he asked for this summer but he is a one season appointment. Next summer when we’re looking for a new manager, the signing strategy has to mirror this summer and NOT revert to their old cash conscious punts and projects policy.
Going for quality over quantity is great, but only if it’s a regular occurrence.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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