Chris Sutton has suggested Celtic’s business during the January transfer window could prove decisive in the title race, and NOT in a positive way…
The former Hoops striker argued that the club’s approach in what he described as a January transfer window “arms race” may ultimately work against Martin O’Neill’s side this season.
During the winter window, Celtic brought in five loanees – Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Benjamin Arthur and Joel Mvuka – while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also arrived on a free transfer shortly after the deadline had passed.
Speaking via Sky Sports on the coming weeks and months ahead for Celtic, Sutton said: “Celtic do not have the strength that they had in previous seasons. They have to up their game if they want to win the title. Celtic has a tough run with a European game tomorrow.”
“Auston Trusty is suspended for the trip to Ibrox, and the form of Kasper Schmeichel is being questioned. It is quite a tricky one for Martin O’Neill to handle. I would prefer it if Martin made changes in the game against Stuttgart and went with a second string to rest the players before Sunday.”
🔵 Rangers favourites for Old Firm
❤️ Hearts still favourites for title
🍀 Celtic lost transfer window ‘Arms Race’
🔁 O’Neill should rest players v StuttgartFormer Celtic striker Chris Sutton previews Sunday’s Old Firm game at Ibrox – live on Sky Sports from 11am 📺 pic.twitter.com/HdmKi0cSN9
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 25, 2026
Sutton added: “Martin thinks the tie against Stuttgart is retrievable; I do not. I would prioritise the game on Sunday. Sunday is epic, but the nature of the Scottish League this season means I do not think it is a defining game.”
“I thought it would be about the January arms race to see who would get the better of that, and Celtic are at the bottom of it. Their recruitment has not been on point by any stretch of the imagination.”
Celtic face VfB Stuttgart this evening, with O’Neill’s men confronting a monumental challenge after last week’s 4-1 loss to Sebastian Hoeness’ side in the first leg.
After their European assignment, the Scottish champions will turn their attention to domestic matters with a visit to Ibrox, before heading to Pittodrie in midweek to play their rearranged fixture against Aberdeen.
Conor Spence
Introducing The Celtic Star App and our new ad-free Premium Service...
Go ad-free on The Celtic Star, get a FREE trial period to try it out. Also download our new App – available for both Apple and Android – and get the best Celtic content on your phone without fighting through pop-up ads and being forced to watch videos.
Our new PREMIUM service comes with a free seven-day trial so you can look before you book. If you are happy to continue the price will be just 99p per month or £9.99 for the year. For that you get an AD-FREE SITE plus access to our premium content, and you’ll also help us make The Celtic Star even better and less reliant on advertising revenues, allowing us to be more focused on publishing the best Celtic features on the internet.
Click HERE to access your FREE trial. We think you’ll like it! We’re Obsessed with Celtic and we think you are too! Join us hand in hand...
