Will Celtic Learn From Their January Mistake Despite Unpromising Signs?

Celtic’s transfer strategy, if they have one, has come under scrutiny over the past 18 months or so.

Fans have been left unimpressed with signings and how long it’s taken. to get bodied through the door, and although Celtic have been dragging their heels this summer, they have a chance to show that they’ve learned from their January mistake.

The case of Adam Idah highlights some of these transfer pitfalls.

There was a lot of negativity surrounding his signing through no fault of his own. Fans were promised 3/4 quality players and Celtic signed Norwich City’s third-choice striker on a short-term loan with no option to buy very late into the window.

After performing impressively during a loan spell without an option to buy, Idah’s performances caught the eye of Norwich, complicating Celtic’s chances of securing him permanently.

Currently, Celtic is linked with a potential loan move for Hugo Bueno, a left-back previously targeted since January. The delay in making a move until just a week before the season’s start raises questions about Celtic’s transfer planning and execution.

For Bueno, incorporating an option to buy in his loan agreement could be crucial. This arrangement would not only ensure that Celtic has the opportunity to retain the player should he perform well, but it would also demonstrate a more forward-thinking approach to squad building. Given past experiences, securing an option to buy could help mitigate the risk of losing another impactful loanee due to external circumstances beyond the club’s control.

Look at Jota and Carter-Vickers, both phenomenal players for Celtic, but had Celtic not included the option to buy the pair in their loan contracts, they likely wouldn’t have remained in Glasgow permanently.

So, will Celtic learn from their mistakes, even though they’re leaving it late?