Celtic’s activity in the winter window might not be over just yet.
After wrapping up three loan deals on Deadline Day, Martin O’Neill appears to be exploring the free agent market as he continues to fine tune his squad.
The Hoops brought in extra firepower during the window with the arrivals of Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka, while Julian Araujo and Benjamin Arthur bolstered the defensive options. All five additions joined on temporary deals.
Now, with the window shut, O’Neill is considering whether a familiar name could add further experience to his midfield.
O’Neill opens up on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain link
One of the more surprising names to be linked with Celtic is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder is currently without a club after spending the last two seasons with Besiktas.
Asked about the speculation, O’Neill confirmed he has spoken to the 32 year old and offered a candid assessment, even likening him to former Celtic loanee Craig Bellamy.
“It’s not about money at all,” O’Neill said. “I’ve spoken to him and watched what he was doing in Turkey, and he was fine. He played in a deeper role at times, and you don’t just lose ability.
“You might lose a bit of edge, but he was keen and open to a challenge. At his age, he still has plenty to offer. He will have other options too. He’s training at Arsenal and they could even look at keeping him around.
“He knew about Celtic and had spoken to Joe Hart previously, though that was some time ago. He lives in London and I’ve not pushed it any further yet. It’s only been the last day or so.
“Could he be like Craig Bellamy was for us? Bellamy is still spoken about now. People always ask why he didn’t stay, but that was his choice.
“If you can bring in a player of that quality, it’s a huge bonus. If it doesn’t happen, we already have good players here. But I would love to have him. I don’t think getting him match sharp would be a big issue.”
Celtic’s success with free agents
While free transfers do not always grab headlines, Celtic have enjoyed notable success in that market in recent seasons.
Kieran Tierney returned to the club on a pre contract agreement last summer, with Kelechi Iheanacho following later in the year. A year earlier, Kasper Schmeichel arrived after his contract ended at Anderlecht.
Aaron Mooy also stands out as a prime example. Signed in 2022, he spent just one season at Parkhead, but his influence during that campaign left a lasting impression.