Celtic successfully negotiated the passage into the next round of the UEFA Champions league qualifiers following a 1-0 win over Elfsborg on aggregate. The club managed a 0-0 draw to complete this victory on aggregate. After the match, manager Neil Lennon has said that he is already looking at signing a number of key players in order to strengthen the team. Despite winning the double last season, Celtic have lost key players in the last few weeks. This includes striker Gary Hooper, who has moved to the Premier league with Norwich city. Midfielder Victor Wanyama has joined Premier league club Southampton.
Celtic have a significant amount of transfer fund to spend after these departures and Lennon is looking to replace the stars who have left the club. Wanyama was sold for around £ 12 million, while Hooper got the club a significant transfer fee as well. Celtic have made a couple of signings in this transfer window, but Derk Boerrigter is probably the only first-team player of the lot. The play-offs for the Champions league group stages will be taking place shortly. Celtic will be learning their opponents when the draw is held.
The Scottish club will be confident of having an easy draw because they are in the pot as champions.
“We are going to work hard to get a few players in, the players are running on empty. These qualifiers are tough and we have two games to go before the group stages. It was a huge result. It is nerve wracking at this time. I was nervous all day. It was a tough night, we showed great character. It was a tough game and you have to give credit to Elfsborg, they gave it everything,” said Lennon. Celtic are once again the favourites to win the league title.