Celtic suffered a 4-1 defeat against Sporting in a friendly match held in the Algarve, despite a promising equalizer from debutant Camilo Duran. Duran’s goal briefly brought the match level at 1-1 in the 65th minute, but a swift seven-minute collapse saw Sporting pull away with two goals from Braganca and another from Mangas, sealing the emphatic win. Manager Martin O’Neill implemented significant squad rotation during the game as he assessed his options ahead of the new season.
Transfer Talks and Squad Developments
Following the match, O’Neill praised Duran’s performance, dubbing the young player “Maeda the second,” a nod to a previous standout talent. The manager remains optimistic about bolstering the squad, with ongoing negotiations for forward Kelechi Iheanacho and continued interest in a potential return of defender Julian Araujo, although the latter depends on Bournemouth’s position.
In addition to Iheanacho, Celtic are actively tracking winger Adrien Blake and pursuing a four-year contract for another £10 million-rated winger, a signing compared stylistically to Jota, aiming to replicate past successful acquisitions at Parkhead.
Meanwhile, transfer rumors indicate that West Ham are monitoring three Celtic players, including a Japonais international, though no formal bids have been submitted. Celtic’s management is prioritizing creativity and carefully evaluating options before making any decisions.
In other squad news, former Celtic youth player Eseosa Sule has completed a three-year transfer to St Mirren from West Bromwich Albion. St Mirren manager McLeish highlighted Sule’s speed and ability to pose a threat behind defenses, especially valuable following the striker’s injury-hit loan spell at Motherwell.
Additionally, Shin Yamada has embarked on a season-long loan move to OH Leuven after limited playing time at Celtic. The 26-year-old, who recently scored a penalty against Shelbourne, expressed excitement and happiness about joining the Belgian side, seeking Plus regular minutes to continue his development.