Mulgrew: Celtic Need Three Strikers and Rangers Will Be a Huge Threat Under McInnes

| Celtic | Martin O'Neill | Rangers | Evan Ferguson | Elijah Just | Hearts

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Celtic captain and Scotland international Charlie Mulgrew has assessed the major rebuild facing Celtic this summer and the growing threat from Rangers .

Mulgrew has named Evan Ferguson and Elijah Just as summer transfer targets for Celtic , backed Martin O'Neill to deliver while the club sorts itself out behind the scenes, and tipped Rangers to push hard for the title under Derek McInnes .

The former Blackburn man has also discussed the Hearts project under Tony Bloom , assessed which key players could leave Celtic Park , and explained why the champions need at least five or six new faces.

Celtic Management

Happy to See O'Neill Stay On?

There's a lot behind the scenes needing sorted at Celtic . Everybody knows that everybody's aware of that. A lot of recruitment staff and a sporting director may be getting put in place after Paul Tisdale left.

A lot of things need to be done at the club and sorted. I think that Martin O'Neill in charge for the moment is proof they can bring success. It's obviously not a long-term plan, but in the meantime, the club can get sorted behind the scenes and then be in a better place to appoint a long-term manager.

Who Is the Heir Apparent?

Martin O'Neill needs young coaches to help him bring some energy and different types of sessions regarding the modern game, information, and styles of play.

I think he had that last year with Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham ; McManus involved in that. I think these people who know him well will help; whether he needs another coach to add to that is something that maybe could happen. I think Martin O'Neill could be a mentor to a younger coach; he's got so much experience, and that's why he's still in the role.

Who Would Be Your Pick to Manage Celtic?

Jens Berthel Askou from Motherwell would have been good, but he obviously went to Toulouse , and we missed out on him. I don't know if there was contact or what happened there, but I think he'd have been very good with the budget here.

At Motherwell , he worked wonders and had them playing some good stuff, the best footballing team in the league last year in terms of in-possession. And then I quite like the idea of Craig Bellamy ; I think that the way he speaks is very good, very honest, very passionate.

You can feel that when he talks in his press conferences. He's got Wales playing a style of football they've never played, and I think they reflect his personality on the pitch. And I think he's played for Celtic as well; he would understand the personality needed to deal with the intensity in Scotland , because I don't think there's anything like it anywhere. You don't know what that's like until you're here. So I think that's somebody that would also be a good candidate for the future.

Title Race

Are Rangers a Bigger Threat Under McInnes?

Again, time will tell. Derek McInnes has done really well. He's proven in management in Scotland . He knows the game inside out. He knows how to get results. He's been at Aberdeen and Hearts . Now he's going to Rangers again; he's been at Rangers , so he understands the club. He lives in the area. He feels what Glasgow needs, what the intensity is here, and that is to win every week.

So he'll understand what he has to do. He showed at Hearts last year in terms of winning games and being consistent considering the budget they had. So now he goes to Rangers , and yeah, he's somebody that I think will have Rangers winning games consistently, which I think will be a big threat next year to Celtic .

I think with him and Lawrence Shankland missing out on the title last year, they'll be so determined to get that title next year. So they're going to be a huge threat. I think it's going to be difficult for Celtic next year. But listen, Martin has the winning mentality as well; Celtic can spend a bit of money and get some players in because other players are going to be going. So I think they'll bring players in and bring that freshness.

Can Hearts Overtake Celtic and Rangers?

Hearts are fascinating because they've got this new structure in place with Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics , and I think that they've got aspirations to be up there challenging for the title in the next five to ten years. So the first year they had a right go and surprised everybody, but next year it's all about going again. Now I just wonder if they lose a couple of their first games or they drop points early, and Celtic and Rangers all of a sudden take a wee bit of a lead, how they're going to react to that.

There's a lot to be done there. Their main striker and captain left, their manager's away. They're going to need to replace them, but they've proved it right, and they do that quite regularly. So it's a real interesting one for Hearts next year. I think a lot of people are looking on to see if they can respond.

Transfers

Who Could Leave Celtic?

Who do I expect to leave Celtic ? I think that Daizen Maeda will be one that will be away. I'd imagine, I think Arne Engels , having had a big offer from Forest in January , and he stayed. I think that he may have been told that if he waits until summer, he can then go. So that's two huge players that were pivotal in the run-in. Then Benjamin Nygren obviously scored a lot of goals, so he'll be attracting attention. I would imagine Nygren will stay for another year.

But I don't know. Players that haven't played a part in it this year need to move on, squad players. There's a lot that needs to be done itself. They need to really get moving with all that stuff, but as we know, it doesn't happen overnight.

Where Do Celtic Need to Strengthen?

I mean, there's no doubt about it, for a few seasons now there's been a striker needed. Daizen Maeda stepped up at the end of the season, but we need a striker. Celtic need to bring a striker in, two, maybe three. Because in the actual squad, I don't know if Kelechi Iheanacho has triggered his contract or his extension yet. That'll be something I would be looking to keep and then bring another couple.

I think that's what Martin 's main thing would be. Obviously, some wingers, I mean, you could go through it; there's a lot of positions needed. Even with Paulo Bernardo leaving, the left-back is away. You need somebody to replace that.

The good thing is Cameron Carter-Vickers is back; he'll be back for next season. Hopefully, we can keep Alistair Johnston because he's a huge player. But I don't think there's any position, maybe right back, we don't really need a player. I think we can strengthen in all positions, the goalkeeper area as well. There's at least five or six players that need to come in to really impact the squad.

Could Elijah Just Join Celtic?

Over the course of the season, Elijah Just was brilliant. He was the best forward-winger, although he does come inside a lot and play that inside channel; he's not a traditional winger. I think that he's somebody that can, if you've got a full-back that can push on and create the width, he's somebody that can come inside the pockets and definitely add to the Celtic squad. He's right under Celtic 's nose at Motherwell as well; the World Cup performance has risen his stock even more.

I think he'd be interested in a move to Celtic . I don't know the boy, but I'd imagine that's something that would interest him. And 100 per cent, he's somebody that you'd be looking at. I'm sure there's other mobile players as well. There's somebody that's impressed this season, Elliot Watt as well, but let's see.

Would You Be Excited to See Evan Ferguson at Celtic?

I'd love to see Evan Ferguson at Celtic . I don't know whether he would want to come or not, but he's somebody that if he was available and wanted to come up here, I think he's a player that I'd definitely take at Celtic . We saw him scoring at Celtic Park for Roma last season. He's got ability; he's a finisher; he's proved that. He's somebody who would know what the club's all about.

I would definitely take him. I don't know a lot about his current fitness, to be honest with you, but that's something that we could take into consideration. But I think that he's somebody that would definitely add to the Celtic squad.

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