Honestly, walking into Parkhead right now feels a bit like waiting for a bus that’s already twenty minutes late. You know it’s coming, or at least you’ve been told it is, but the frost is starting to bite. We are well into the January 2026 window, and the Celtic FC transfer news cycle is currently dominated by one man standing at the helm: Martin O'Neill.
It is a weird time to be a Hoops fan. We’re sitting third in the table. Hearts are six points clear and chasing a dream, and while the "interim" tag is still attached to O'Neill's name after Wilfried Nancy’s sudden exit, the pressure to deliver immediate results is immense. But the squad is thin. It’s paper-thin in places that matter, especially up front.
The striker scramble: Why Callum Wilson and Andrej Ilic matter
If you’ve been following the back-and-forth this week, you’ll know the striker situation is basically a crisis. With Kyogo Furuhashi reportedly turning down a return to Glasgow just last week, the recruitment team has been forced into a frantic pivot.
The name on everyone’s lips is Callum Wilson. It’s a classic "risk vs. reward" scenario. He’s 33, he’s tearing up his contract at West Ham, and he’s available for nothing. On paper? Amazing. In reality? His injury record is terrifying. Former teammate James McPake hasn't held back, warning that a fully fit Wilson doesn't come to Scotland. We’d be getting the version that needs managed with kid gloves.
Then there’s Andrej Ilic.
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The Union Berlin man is the polar opposite of Wilson—physical, 25 years old, and carries a price tag around £9 million. He’s got 72 career goals, but Union Berlin aren't exactly in a rush to sell. Burnley are sniffing around too. If Celtic pull this off, it’s a massive statement of intent from Dermot Desmond and the board. If they don't, we’re left looking at "development" projects while the title race slips away.
Current state of the January 2026 arrivals
- Julian Araujo: Joined on loan from Bournemouth. He’s the only one through the door so far.
- Stephen Welsh: Recalled from his loan at Motherwell because the defensive injury list is a nightmare.
- Jocelin Ta Bi: A £2 million deal for the Ivorian winger is reportedly "close," but he’s not the finished article fans are screaming for.
The Jota bombshell and the injury nightmare
You probably heard the news yesterday, and it’s a gut punch. Martin O'Neill confirmed that we shouldn't expect to see Jota back this season. None of it. The ACL injury he picked up back in April 2025 at Tannadice has had complications. A "tidy up" surgery was mentioned, but the reality is he’s out until the 2026-27 campaign.
It changes everything for the transfer strategy. You can’t just "wait" for your best player to return anymore.
The injury list is actually quite staggering when you look at it:
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- Cameron Carter-Vickers: Still sidelined with that Achilles issue.
- Alistair Johnston: Hoping for a March return, but that’s optimistic.
- Kelechi Iheanacho: Dealing with a hamstring tweak that should clear by late January.
- Callum Osmand: Out until March.
When O'Neill says he’s "discarding" targets, he’s being brutally honest. He doesn't want fluff. He needs starters. The board hasn't put up any "impediments," according to the man himself, but the clock is ticking toward that February 2 deadline.
Who is actually leaving Parkhead?
It’s not just about who comes in. We’ve already seen Hayato Inamura head back to Japan on loan to FC Tokyo. It just didn't work out for him here—one appearance all season says it all.
There is a lot of noise surrounding Daizen Maeda. Bundesliga clubs are circling, and with Celtic looking to raise funds for a marquee striker, a permanent exit isn't off the table. Then you have the fringe players like Yang Hyun-jun and Paulo Bernardo. Both have been linked with moves away, but selling Yang right now feels like a massive gamble given the lack of depth on the wings.
The reality of the O'Neill era (Part 2)
O'Neill has been very vocal about how "difficult" January is. We’ve heard it before. Every manager says it. But for a guy who stepped in to steady the ship after Nancy's departure, he’s being remarkably self-critical. He’s taking the blame for the delay in signings, which is vintage Martin, but it doesn't change the fact that the fans are restless.
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The gap to Hearts isn't insurmountable, but it requires a perfect February and March. To do that, you need a fit No. 9.
Kieron Bowie is another name being mentioned—a £10 million "shopping scramble" as some are calling it. Whether the club actually drops that kind of cash on a 23-year-old remains to be seen. Historically, the Celtic board prefers the "buy low, sell high" model, but with the title (and the Champions League money that comes with it) on the line, the old rules might have to go out the window.
Actionable Insights for the Window
- Watch the Ilic situation: If Burnley moves first, Celtic will likely pivot to a loan deal for someone like Stefan Ortega (the Man City keeper) to shore up the back while they hunt for a cheaper forward.
- Don't expect Jota: Erase him from your tactical previews for the rest of the season. The focus is now entirely on whether Ta Bi or a new arrival can fill that creative void.
- Monitor the Falkirk game: The lineup for the midweek fixture will tell you everything you need to know about who O'Neill trusts and who is being "frozen out" ahead of a deadline-day exit.
The next two weeks will define the season. Either the board backs O'Neill with the "clinical" striker he’s asked for, or we’re looking at a very long, very cold spring in Glasgow's East End.
Next Steps for Celtic Recruitment
The club needs to finalize the Jocelin Ta Bi paperwork within the next 48 hours to integrate him before the February fixtures. Simultaneously, a decision on the Callum Wilson medical must be made; if his physical assessment shows any recurring risk, the focus must shift entirely to the Andrej Ilic negotiations to ensure a primary scoring threat is registered before the window shuts on February 2.