Celtic set to pull plug on late signing spree after latest
Celtic's extravagant transfer plans will not be put into action after they missed out on qualifying for the Champions League, sources have told Football Insider.
The Hoops had one foot in the Champions League proper after a fine 3-0 first leg playoff win against LASK last week.
They even went 4-0 up on aggregate in Austria before shipping five and dramatically missing out on qualification on a humiliating night for all involved.
Celtic had planned for a spree of spending on new signings using the substantial £40million payday that follows progression to the league stage.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, their failure to qualify has shelved those plans as they now look to spend frugally before the transfer window shuts next week.
Martin O'Neill has admitted that his plans have changed ahead of the Thursday, 3 September deadline, with Celtic still targeting another three arrivals.
Celtic can not spend big in the coming days after Champions League blow
O'Neill could not hide his frustration over transfer plans being affected by their loss in Linz on Tuesday, saying: "I said last week that if you could qualify for the Champions League, there would be players that would want to come on that very basis. That’s not going to be the case, but we’ll see.”
Celtic have already spent £27m recruiting Camilo Duran, Kasper Hogh, Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan, but remain in profit after selling Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels, Luis Palma and Maik Nawrocki for a combined £35m.
They will continue to do business up until the end of the window, but have much less money to play with than if they had qualified for the UCL proper.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "There's no doubt about it, Celtic were counting on that £40m windfall coming their way if they had a qualified for the league stage of the Champions League.
"It's come as a huge blow to them, missing out, especially in the manner that they did against LASK as well. It will affect Martin O'Neill's transfer plans because of the finances that he has available to spend."
Celtic lining up Yukinari Sugawara loan move amid right-back concerns
O'Neill has been focusing on bolstering his full-back ranks in this window, with the Hoops closing in on signing Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Celtic are interested in Southampton right-back Sugawara, who is available for loan or transfer before the English football deadline passes on 1 September.
Sugawara spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and went to the World Cup with Japan, with Celtic looking for a new right-back amid Alistair Johnston's ongoing injury concerns.