Celtic's squad needs strengthening in areas, says Sinisalo

Celtic goalkeeper Vil Sinisalo admits the squad needs strengthening but is confident new recruits will be brought in.

The champions have made just one summer signing with Colombian striker Camilo Duran, and handed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a fresh year-long deal after he joined in February.

The club’s ongoing difficulties in signing players led to major tensions with former manager Brendan Rodgers and stoked divisions with fans last season.

Chairman Brian Wilson, chief executive Michael Nicholson and manager Martin O’Neill recently attended the annual general meeting of the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs in Cork, where they took part in a brief question and answer session with supporters.

Minutes of the meeting have emerged online and state that O’Neill told the Celtic board that he was in “major need of signings” as his squad was not strong enough to compete despite their double-winning “heroics” of last term.

The club delegation were asked why the club were “so slow” in signing players.

The minutes state that Nicholson “advised of the difficulty in dealing with agents, competing with the Premier League and even the Championship”.

He added in the July 4 meeting that they were working on signing out-of-contract players.

Sinisalo said: “Do we need strengthening in areas? Yes, of course we do. But you always build from a position of strength. That’s what this club looks to do and I feel that the club will definitely do that.

“If there’s a big money bid coming for you, then that’s something the club has to consider, the player has to consider himself.”

Meanwhile, Sinisalo says he’s determined to remain as Celtic’s number one.

The Finnish international helped Celtic to a memorable double after being drafted into the first team for the 1-0 Europa League second-leg win over Stuttgart on February 26.

The former Aston Villa player only suffered one defeat and helped Celtic end the season with nine consecutive wins.

He said: “I can’t really say much more than that myself, but it’s part of football. You lose players, players come in, there’s always a lot of change in the playing squad, and that’s just part of it.”

Celtic host Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, and the 10,000 visiting fans could outnumber the home support amid calls for a boycott over ongoing frustrations with the board and slow transfer activity.

When asked about disquiet among fans, Sinisalo said: “Ultimately, we’re the ones on the pitch doing the playing and I think it all calms down a little bit if we play well. It’s down to us to put the performances out and block that out.”