In a modern game saturated with buzzwords such as ‘project’, ‘philosophy’ and ‘transition’, it is striking how many managers – including former Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy – appear to overlook football’s most fundamental principle. Winning.
To his credit, Nancy is far from alone in showing an unwavering loyalty to his tactical ideals – step forward Ruben Amorim and Russell Martin – yet the way he imposed his preferred system on a poorly matched set of players was outright puzzling. The overuse of square pegs in round holes ultimately proved his downfall.
Following the Frenchman’s self-inflicted turmoil, the returning Martin O’Neill has restored a sense of stability, seemingly identifying the most effective approach with the resources available to him.
Seven victories from eight matches as interim manager this season mean that even a chaotic campaign could still finish on a high, with a depleted Hoops squad remaining firmly in the Premiership title race.
O’Neill’s winning mindset appears to be filtering through a group that struggled under Nancy, although even the 73-year-old is no miracle worker – a new centre-forward is essential.
Latest on Celtic’s search for a striker:
Kyogo Furuhashi departed a year ago. Adam Idah followed him out the door in a late deal to join Swansea City over the summer.
That was supposedly part of a carefully structured plan for a slick Celtic operation, with the Parkhead hierarchy believed to have suitable replacements lined up well in advance. Right?
Unfortunately, the sluggish nature of the club’s transfer business has been most apparent in the centre-forward department, with the only senior, established striker arriving after the window had closed, in the shape of Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Nigerian has since been plagued by injuries, while Shin Yamada has yet to find the net following his own summer move.
Those issues have forced Celtic to revisit Kyogo’s situation, with reports suggesting the Hoops explored a loan move last week. However, Birmingham City appear reluctant to approve a mid-season departure for the Japanese international.
Alternative options may now need to be explored, with the Glasgow side also said to be competing with Rangers for Hibernian’s Kieron Bowie, with the 23-year-old attracting widespread interest this month.
A clearly exciting prospect, but with a reported £6.5m valuation, Celtic may well have reservations.
Indeed, with a promising young striker already on their books, perhaps patience would be wise.
Celtic have already signed their own Bowie:
There is no disputing that Celtic require a proven upgrade before the window closes, even with Daizen Maeda scoring while operating as an improvised centre-forward against Dundee United last time out.
Bowie, who has nine goals to his name this season at Easter Road, is undoubtedly talented, but proven? That remains debatable.
With 15 goals in 50 appearances for Hibs, the Scotland Under-21 international is only just starting to make his mark in the Premiership, having arrived in Edinburgh in the summer of 2024.
Time and trust have been key to Bowie establishing himself as the focal point for his current club, with Celtic perhaps needing to mirror that approach with another emerging talent in Callum Osmand.
Much like Bowie, who joined from Fulham after four years on the books in west London, Osmand also came through the academy ranks at Craven Cottage before leaving this summer.
Unlike Bowie, who benefited from loan spells at Northampton, the Jersey-born finisher had not played senior football prior to his move to Glasgow, although he has since impressed in limited opportunities.
Despite being cruelly disrupted by injury, the 20-year-old proved decisive for O’Neill in the Scottish League Cup semi-final victory over Rangers, slotting home in extra time to secure a place in the final.
Having been largely overlooked by Brendan Rodgers earlier in the season, Osmand looked to be making rapid progress, delivering another energetic cameo off the bench away to Midtjylland in the Europa League, after earning the penalty that Reo Hatate calmly converted.
That night in Denmark also saw his momentum halted, however, with a five-month spell on the sidelines predicted, further reducing O’Neill’s attacking options.
Even so, there was more than enough to encourage those of a Hoops persuasion, with the “lightning quick” forward, as described by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, clearly eager to push on next season.
In Bowie’s case, after scoring just six goals across the whole of the 2024/25 campaign following his Fulham move, it has been his second season that has truly seen him grow into a talisman at Easter Road.
It remains too early to determine whether Osmand can follow a similar path at Celtic Park, but rather than bringing in another young striker who could hinder his development, the Hoops may be better served placing their trust in their own exciting centre-forward recruit from south of the border.