CELTIC MANAGER O'NEILL DEFENDS TRANSFER ACTIVITY AFTER IHEANACHO DEPARTURE

Martin O'Neill stated that Celtic are "making some progress" in adding players to their squad, whilst acknowledging the club's failure to retain striker Kelechi Iheanacho. The Scottish champions face criticism from supporters over limited summer transfer activity, which some have linked to low attendance at Saturday's 1-1 pre-season friendly draw against Middlesbrough. Camilo Duran, a Colombian striker signed from Qarabag, scored Celtic's equaliser in that match and remains the club's sole summer signing to date.

O'Neill said the club would "bolster the squad" and expected "a couple of new faces by the time that we kick the season off", though he stopped short of making firm commitments. Iheanacho, a Nigerian striker whose contract with Celtic had expired, signed with Bursaspor, a club recently promoted to Turkey's second tier, earlier this week instead of renewing terms with the Glasgow club. O'Neill acknowledged that he believed an agreement with Iheanacho had been reached but ultimately did not materialise. Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson described it as "difficult" to add players because the club competes against big-spending organisations in England's top two divisions.

Reports suggested Bursaspor offered Iheanacho a higher salary package than Celtic could provide. O'Neill declined to attribute the transfer solely to financial differences, stating that multiple factors shape any player move. Duran has scored twice in pre-season play for Celtic so far this summer.