Celtic faces a challenging period as they enter the Premiership match against Dundee on Wednesday night with a notably leaner squad. The club is currently reliant on Adam Idah as their sole senior centre-forward, supported by Johnny Kenny as a backup. Despite the closure of the transfer window, Celtic did not manage to secure a replacement for prolific striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who transferred to Rennes for £10 million.
The departure of Kyogo, who netted an impressive 85 goals since joining Celtic in the summer of 2021, has left a significant void in the team's offensive lineup. Manager Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the frustration of fans who feel Kyogo's departure was a misstep. While Daizen Maeda offers another option in the forward position, his suspension in the upcoming Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich limits Celtic's attacking options.
The club did make two notable acquisitions during the transfer window. Jeremy Schlupp joined on loan on deadline day, and Jota made a return to Celtic 18 months after his initial departure. However, these additions have not fully addressed the gap left by Kyogo's exit.
Rodgers has expressed his understanding of the supporters' concerns but emphasizes the necessity of reviewing the club's transfer strategy moving forward.
"Some people will say that, but you don't have the depth of knowledge that I have on the player and working with him, and going back to the summer."
The transfer window's conclusion means Celtic will need to focus on developing their existing squad over the next four months. Rodgers remains optimistic about the team's potential for growth despite having a tighter roster. The manager is committed to enhancing the players' development to ensure competitiveness in both domestic and European competitions.
"I don't want to pin blame on anyone here. I think as a collective, it wasn't ideal, how it ended for us."
As Celtic prepares for their match against Dundee, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how the team adapts to its current circumstances. The coming months will test Celtic's resilience and strategic planning as they navigate through this transitional phase.
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