“Celtic good enough to win league with current squad,” Pat Nevin

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin reckons Celtic’s current squad is easily good enough to win the league this season. And he also talked up the impact that Paulo Bernardo can make at the club in the second half of this campaign.

While there has been plenty of talk about incomings at Celtic in the January transfer window, the Scottish champions have so only managed to get one transfer over the line so far, with Nicolas Kuhn signing on a £3m deal from Rapid Vienna yesterday.

One or two additional signings could yet join Kuhn at the club but as is always the case, nothing is guaranteed. Celtic appear to be looking for a left back and striker and of course Brendan Rodgers is also looking to reduce the overall size of his first team squad, so we can possibly expect more exits than arrivals in the last two weeks of the transfer window.

Celtic supporters may well have to settle for a relatively similar squad going into the second half of the season if things stay as they are, but Pat Nevin doesn’t see that as a cause for concern, although he believes that the Celtic players do need to have their wits about them and show a greater degree of consistency in the second half of the season.

Speaking exclusively to Jessica Elliott from The Celtic Star yesterday, in an interview conducted on behalf of OCB Scores, Nevin said: “I think Celtic are good enough to win the league with their current squad but it’s not definite.

“Before the big (the)Rangers game, a couple of weeks ago, it was one of those pivotal moments in the season where you thought – if Celtic win this game, you’ve got a bit of a gap. Obviously, the games in hand make a difference but after (the)Rangers had been on such a good run, and they have been on that run since Clement came in, this was the test. And actually, Celtic were, by a distance, the better team. (the)Rangers were completely punchless up front.

Celtic v Aberdeen – David Turnbull poses with the trophy after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday May 27, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

“Looking at what Celtic have just now, it’s probably enough but watch out, because (the)Rangers are not far behind. They’re on a really good run and they’re adding to their squad. So, it’s one of those ones where, they’re ahead at the moment, but if I was the manager, I’d be wanting to add a bit more strength in depth.”

Speaking on Paulo Bernardo’s time in Scotland so far, Nevin said: “It’s really hard, people forget, just because people like Kyogo came and hit the ground running at pace, it’s not always easy and you need to get to know the league, the players around you, your own players, all of that sort of stuff. He’s actually done well.

Nevin doesn’t think it would be too big blow if he left Celtic after his loan deal ends though, adding: “When you get everyone, Maeda, Hatate, Furuhashi, all available at the same time, there’s probably enough from midfield to attack to get ahead but it’s other areas you need to worry about. It would be great to sign him, but finance is finance, and that’s what it comes down to.”

A lot of fans would be chuffed to see Bernardo join the club permanently, especially after making his presence known when he lit up Celtic Park on Glasgow Derby Day at the end of December. There’s no indication on if the club would be interested in signing Bernardo permanently, but it is still early days and the player is certainly making an impact.

According to various reports, Celtic are exploring loan options as the club looks to get in a new left back and striker. Brendan Rodgers is apparently considering bringing in players from the English Premier League, with the Hoops being heavily linked to Liverpool players Owen Beck and Caoimhin Kelleher on social media over the past few days.

A few new signings, especially ones coming from a top league, would certainly go a long way in assisting our title charge. Considering we’re only half-way through the month, there’s still plenty of time for new faces to step foot inside Celtic Park.

Jessica Elliott