The dream XI Celtic may construct below O’Neill

Sky Sports activities lately reported that Celtic are set to verify the everlasting appointment of Martin O’Neill on an preliminary 12-month contract within the coming weeks.

The Northern Irish boss has been within the dugout since he took over as an interim supervisor in January after Wilfried Nancy’s unlucky spell in control of the membership.

O’Neill, who received the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup this season, will now have the chance to have a full summer season switch window to construct the squad that he desires at Parkhead.

The Hoops needed to wait till the ultimate day of the marketing campaign to seal the title with a win over Hearts, and the Scottish giants might need to make a number of adjustments to their finest beginning line-up earlier than the opening day of the 2026/27 season.

The goalkeeper and defence

When constructing his dream XI this summer season, O’Neill will first must signal a brand new goalkeeper to interchange Kasper Schmeichel, who has formally retired from skilled soccer.

Celtic had been lately linked with a £2m transfer to signal Go Forward Eagles goalkeeper Jari De Busser, who may arrive as an improve on Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

The Belgian star prevented 10.00 xG along with his shot-stopping within the Eredivisie this season, while each of O’Neill’s goalkeepers conceded greater than anticipated, suggesting that he can be a big improve for the membership between the sticks.

By way of the again 4, protecting their key gamers match is extra essential than making new signings. Alistair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers solely began 13 instances within the Premiership mixed, and so they have been serial winners as a right-sided defensive pairing over time.

Preserving them match could possibly be higher than any new signing at centre-back or right-back as a result of they’re confirmed performers who’ve each received a number of titles as common starters.

The midfield

In the course of the park, O’Neill may need to interchange Arne Engels as a result of the Belgium worldwide has been linked with a £25m transfer to Premier League facet Nottingham Forest.

His alternative may come within the type of Moroccan star Sofiane El-Faouzi. The Schalke midfielder is a reported goal for Celtic and is valued at £10m by the Bundesliga facet.

Their respective statistics at league stage within the 2025/26 marketing campaign counsel that the Scottish giants would hit the jackpot by promoting Engels for £25m and signing the 23-year-old ace for £10m, as he supplied much more to his group defensively and offensively.

That could possibly be the one change to the favoured midfield three for O’Neill as a result of Callum McGregor, because the captain, ought to stay a starter, and Benjamin Nygren earned his spot with 21 targets this time period.

While the Premiership champions have a constant provide of targets from the Sweden worldwide within the quantity ten position, in addition they want so as to add extra of a menace to their assault.

The assault

Hyun-jun Yang could be the solely participant who retains his place as an everyday starter from this season’s entrance three, after he scored eight targets in 28 begins within the league this season.

Daizen Maeda has one yr left on his contract at Parkhead and has been linked with a transfer away, which may open up a spot on the left wing for a brand new signing to return in.

Motherwell star Elijah Simply, who can play on the left or the precise flank, is a reported goal for the Hoops, and he may fill that spot on the flank, after a return of seven targets and 7 assists in 35 Premiership matches.

The New Zealand worldwide scored 5 extra targets and created 5 extra targets than Sebastien Tounekti did for Celtic, suggesting that he can be an improve on the Tunisian for the Hoops.

That leaves the centre-forward place. No pure quantity 9 scored greater than 5 league targets for the Hoops within the Premiership, which highlights their want for a marquee addition in that place.

Celtic had been linked with a transfer for Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson forward of the January switch window, however he ended up staying on mortgage at Roma for the remainder of the season.

Now that his mortgage in Italy has come to an finish, the Scottish giants ought to return in for the Eire worldwide to make him their quantity 9 for subsequent season, if he’s obtainable on mortgage.

Ferguson scored 5 targets in 22 video games for the Italian giants and has beforehand scored 13 instances in 68 matches within the Premier League for Brighton.

The Irishman, who scored 18 targets in 39 video games for Brighton at U21 stage, has proven promise as a goalscorer in Europe’s main leagues and will thrive as an everyday starter at Celtic within the Premiership, which is why they need to push to convey him in as O’Neill’s dream quantity 9.