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Neil Lennon’s initial remit when returning to Celtic as manager this year was an immense challenge but in concept was pretty straight forward – get the team in place over the line in the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.
Heading into the summer transfer window there are now many more complications to consider, not least an overhaul of the squad currently at Celtic Park.
With a number of players seeing their contract expire and other positions definitely needing strengthened, the Hoops boss has big decisions to make over the next few months.
There’s definite pressure there too, with most Celtic supporters believing heavy recruitment is needed to maintain the success they’ve enjoyed over the last few years.
On the chalkboard
The evidence is there that Lennon can be a success in the transfer market and Celtic fans need look no further than his first summer in charge back in 2010.
Signing players such as Gary Hooper, Joe Ledley, Emilio Izaguirre, Fraser Forster, Anthony Stokes, Charlie Mulgrew and Beram Kayal, Lennon would bring together a group of players that would make up the core of the Celtic side for many successful seasons to come.
It was a period of huge upheaval with established regulars like Aiden McGeady, Stephen McManus and Artur Boruc all leaving Glasgow.
That’s not to say there weren’t misses – Daryl Murphy was a bit of a disaster for example – but Lennon got the vast majority of his signings spot on that summer and at the kind of scale that Celtic need again over the next few months.
If he can find that kind signing success rate ahead of the new season, the Hoops could be unstoppable on the way to nine-in-a-row.
What positions are priorities?
The priorities compared to 2010 are different. This year it’s all about the defence with a number of regulars have left, or set to leave, the squad.
Dedryck Boyata has already moved to Hertha Berlin while Filip Benkovic is heading back to parent club Leicester City. Two first-team calibre centre-backs are needed to compete with Jozo Simunovic and Kristoffer Ajer, because signing flops like Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper just won’t cut it.
With back-up needed for Kieran Tierney and a new first-choice right-back necessary, Lennon will have to piece together a defence that can be the basis for what he will be hoping is a lengthy Celtic reign.
Completing that task will go a long way to keeping Rangers at arms length next season.
Can he do it?
Not only can Lennon do it, there have been hints that he is at Celtic chiefly because the club trust him with their money and transfer kitty.
After the surprise announcement that Lennon was the man the Hoops want to lead the team forward, Chief Executive Peter Lawwell told media outlets such as The National: “At this point in terms for looking at the squad, there’s no-one I’ve worked with who has a better eye for a player.”
It appears he is at the club precisely to oversee a squad overhaul that can inject new energy and impetus into Celtic’s overall game.
While there may be anxiety amongst Celtic supporters about Lennon getting the job, they can at least take solace in the fact the club appear to be ramping up for a summer of significant player recruitment.
