After a rather turbulent start to the season, normalcy has returned at Celtic as they are back at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. Brendan Rodgers’ side is also on the verge of completing a hat-trick of Scottish League Cup triumphs with their final date set up against Aberdeen next month.
While it seems like things are getting back to usual for the Hoops, it would be imprudent on the club’s part to not make some additions in the January transfer window.
There are several areas on the pitch that need strengthening and given how close their domestic rivals have gotten to them this season, Celtic would be wise to bring in new faces and beef up their chances of creating history by completing a hat-trick of domestic trebles.
To that end, here are three players Celtic should look to bring in once the window is open for business in over a month’s time;
The 26-year-old right-back was on Rodgers’ radar in the summer transfer window (h/t Daily Mail), but no move materialized. However, they should look to rekindle their interest in the Austrian in January.
Bauer has experience at the European and international levels and did fairly well in his short stint in the Premier League, having joined Stoke in January earlier this year. However, he has completely fallen out of favour with Gary Rowett and hasn’t played a single minute of first-team football this campaign.
Blessed with blistering pace and natural attacking instincts, the six-time capped Austrian international would be the ideal replacement for Mikael Lustig, who is in the final year of his contract with the club. Given that he is not part of the plans at the Bet365 Stadium, signing him shouldn’t prove to be a major problem for the Hoops.
Nick Powell has grown into one of the finest attacking midfielders in England’s lower divisions over the past couple of years and could make a huge difference at Celtic.
The former Manchester United midfielder was instrumental in helping Wigan achieve promotion back to the EFL Championship last season and has continued to make huge strides in the English second division this time out. So far in the 2018/19 term, the 24-year-old has bagged 4 goals and set up 5 more in 15 appearances.
A powerful presence in the middle, Powell has the ability to create and score in equal measure as seen by his performances for Wigan over the past year or so.
Signing him would provide the Hoops with an added source of goals from the midfield and that could help them since they lack in-form strikers besides Odsonne Edouard. Moreover, Powell is in the final year of his contract and will be available at a bargain price in January – all the more reason for the Hoops to swoop in.
The supremely talented youngster finds himself in a bit of a limbo at Liverpool. Having secured a move to Anfield last year, Solanke has struggled for game time for Jurgen Klopp’s side. While he did feature 27 times for the Reds first-team in his debut campaign, he started only 6 times and finished with returns of one goal and assist apiece.
With Daniel Sturridge back in the reckoning this season, Solanke’s chances have further taken a hit. The 21-year-old hasn’t featured even once this season for Liverpool and is yet to make the matchday squad for their fixtures in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He has started two matches for the Reds’ U23s in the Premier League 2, scoring in both games.
Rated highly in the English football fraternity, Solanke has shown he has the quality to make it count on the big stage. Hence, a loan move for the England international would prove to be beneficial for Celtic, given their lack of depth up front.
