Celtic can lastly improve on Tounekti with £2.5m switch

“We truly appeared scared to go and win the sport” – a brutal evaluation of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat from Celtic skipper, Callum McGregor.

The 33-year-old, talking after that thumping 5-1 loss to LASK, admitted he even felt his facet had “acquired away with it” every week in the past, with there no such fortune this time round.

Sure, Benjamin Nygren’s careless backpass began the spiral into chaos, however the method during which the away facet wilted was deeply regarding, with the failings of this squad laid naked in that second half, specifically.

REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Martin O’Neill desperately wanted his substitutes to assist wrestle again momentum, however those that entered the fray had been maybe simply as culpable as anybody for the collapse, together with Sebastian Tounekti.

Why Celtic have already seen sufficient from Sebastian Tounekti

The frustration of that midweek loss is that had Celtic progressed, elevated funds would have been obtainable to strengthen the squad even additional, shifting the so-called ‘deadwood’ earlier than the deadline.

Mockingly, these peripheral figures who might need been victims of the brand new arrivals finally performed a key function within the defeat, maybe saving themselves from being changed or upgraded upon.

Tounekti is the proper living proof, the Tunisian having been so light-weight following his introduction, dropping the ball 14 occasions from his 43 touches, whereas profitable with simply 50% of his tried dribbles.

Like Luke McCowan, repeatedly the 24-year-old did not preserve maintain of the ball and supply some much-needed respite, having additionally been unsuccessful with all 5 of his tried crosses.

There had been hints of a resurgence this season for the previous Hammarby star, having netted within the League Cup conflict with Dundee United, but endurance is carrying skinny following a disappointing 12 months in Glasgow.

In all, Tounekti’s scored and assisted simply 4 Premiership objectives in that point, and whereas gamers deserve time to mattress in, it is maybe on the level now the place O’Neill and co have absolutely seen sufficient.

Certainly, the veteran coach is starting to get a tune of Yang Hyun-jun, whereas there’s additionally the prospect of unleashing Camilo Duran down the left, with new man Haissem Hassan on the fitting.

Throw into the combination the prospect of a brand new signing too, and Tounekti’s days might be numbered.

How Celtic can exchange Tounekti earlier than the deadline

The 2 costliest arrivals of final summer season have each flattered to deceive, with Michel-Ange Balikwisha, signed for £5m, having not featured in a Premiership contest since October.

As for Tounekti, his 50 complete video games for Celtic have yielded, checks notes, simply six objectives and solely 4 assists, a desperately poor return for a winger.

Hopefully Jota will return quickly sufficient, however the £8m Portuguese wants ample time to rise up to hurry, therefore why a recent face might properly be wanted earlier than subsequent week’s deadline.

As per Sky Sports activities, that participant may very well be FC Utrecht’s Adrian Blake, the teenager stated to be a ‘prime goal’ for the Glasgow facet, with the membership ‘assessing whether or not a brand new left winger is required’.

On the proof of Tounekti’s efficiency, it actually is, and with Blake believed to be ‘eager to hitch’, this seems like a no brainer of a deal to pursue.

Reportedly valued at simply £2.5m, the 21-year-old notably caught the attention in opposition to Celtic final season, scoring a surprising comfort purpose because the hosts ran out 4-2 winners at Parkhead.

Previously on the books at Watford, the younger Englishman made the transfer to the Netherlands in 2023, since rising via the ranks to emerge as an actual vibrant spark for Utrecht.

At the beginning of this season, for example, he is already scored twice in his first three Eredivisie appearances, with Tounekti, in contrast, nonetheless ready to get off the mark within the Premiership.

He did match Tounekti’s tally of simply 4 purpose involvements final season, however that got here from simply ten begins, whereas having additionally registered 5 objectives and assists regardless of solely beginning two league video games in 2024/25.

Even his two objectives within the early weeks of the present marketing campaign have come from the bench, with Blake showcasing, not like Tounekti, that he is usually a actual impression participant late on in video games.

At a time when O’Neill seems to have unlocked one thing in Yang, Celtic do not essentially want a brand new standout, beginning left-winger, as a substitute searching for somebody who can take a recreation by the scruff of the neck from the bench.

REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Tounekti, as Tuesday showcased, simply is not the person, but even at simply 21, Blake would possibly properly be, the in-demand expertise making his mark in what’s deemed to be the Eleventh-best league on the earth, as per World Soccer Rankings. The Premiership, in contrast, is method down in thirty fourth place.

Trying to final season’s Europa League too, in ten appearances, eight of which had been begins, Tounekti did not register a single purpose involvement, nor create a single ‘huge probability’.

In contrast, from seven outings within the competitors, three of which had been begins, Blake scored as soon as and registered one ‘huge probability’, notably dribbled previous simply 0.3 occasions per recreation, whereas Tounekti was dribbled previous 0.7 occasions per recreation.

Contemplating the Utrecht starlet has lower than a yr to run on his present deal, Celtic ought to properly get able to pounce.