Celtic

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says the Celtic "pressure cooker" is the ideal environment for him to thrive.

The England international signed a short-term deal with the Parkhead club in February and helped them win a league and Scottish Cup double last season.

The 32-year-old signed a new deal earlier this summer and is hungry for more success, starting with Monday's Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee.

"When the opportunity to come here last year came up, the fact that it was going to be a challenge, I really enjoyed that," he said.

"The idea of just trying to do whatever I could to give some experience or, at times, a few moments of quality that could help the lads go on to achieve what we did. The way it ended up was like dreamland stuff.

"That's what I thrive off. I'm fortunate enough to have been in teams where there is an expectation to win but also, at the same time, the reality is there's a lot of really, really good teams that make it really hard to win. I thrive in that pressure cooker.

"That's exactly the same mentality that's here. I definitely need that and especially now, I think that helps me bring the most out of myself at this point in my career.

"Having that and having the hunger and young players pushing and striving to be the best they can and go and win as much as they can, that's massive.

"Then you see guys in the dressing room like Cal [McGregor] and Jamesy [Forrest] that have won lots that still want to win.

"Seeing that and being next to that helps you to keep pushing and keep that motivation, even at this later stage of my career. I think that whole environment is what I need and I definitely thrive off that."

Oxlade-Chamberlain was without a club for the first half of last season after leaving Besiktas and is relishing a full summer-s preparation.

"This is probably actually my first proper pre-season in a good three years," he said.

"You still get that same buzz and I'm still running around with a few 16, 17-year-olds out there who are excited. So you feed off that energy and you feel the same age as always.

"Without the pre-season you can never 100 per cent know if you're fully fit or durable enough to last for the whole season. So that's really important. We'll have to see early on how that goes and how I'm feeling. But right now I feel great."

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Celtic are ready to submit a new offer for Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, with the Serie A side seeking around £12m for the 22-year-old Lithuanian. Nicolo Schira on X, external

Celtic will sell Alistair Johnston for around £14m this summer as Everton and Fulham vie for the Canada right-back. Football Insider, external

With Cameron Carter-Vickers back from an Achilles injury, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill says he has no current plans to bring in a new centre-half. Scottish Sun, external

Algeria winger Fares Ghedjemis, a transfer target for both Celtic and Rangers, was absent from the Frosinone squad for their pre-season friendly against Benevento. Scottish Sun, external

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• Martin O'Neill has won four of his five league openers as Celtic manager, with the only exception a 0-0 draw with Dunfermline in 2003-04.

• This is just the second time in Celtic's history they have opened a league campaign on a Monday. The previous instance was in 1921-22, beating Raith Rovers 4-0.

• Reigning Scottish champions have won on matchday one in the past 14 seasons by an aggregate score of 43-7 since Rangers drew 1-1 with Hearts in 2011-12. Celtic have won their opener in the past 14 occasions they have started a season as champoins since a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock in 2007-08.

• Dundee haven't won their opening match in any of their past six Scottish Premiership campaigns (D3 L3) since a 3-1 victory over Ross County in 2016-17.

• Celtic have won 23 of the past 24 occasions they have played at home on matchday one of a league season, drawing the other 0-0 with Kilmarnock in 2007-08.

• Dundee have lost 23 of their past 25 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 win in May 2001 under Ivano Bonetti.

• Celtic have never lost in seven previous instances of facing Dundee on the opening day of a league season (W4 D3), winning their past three in a row, most recently in 1986-87 (1-0).

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Celtic and Rangers are both chasing winger Fares Ghedjemis of Frosinone, although the 23-year-old Algerian is thought to be keen on staying in Italy with a bigger club. Scottish Sun, external

Fulham are to rival Everton in the race to sign Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston. Football Insider, external

Celtic want a £25m fee for Arne Engels after rejecting an offer from West Ham for the 22-year-old who has two years to run on his contract. Sky Sports, external

Mika Baur, 22, has his heart set on a move to Celtic and wants to make the move from Paderborn as soon as possible. Football Insider, external

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton finds it "strange" that Arne Engels would consider a move to the Championship with West Ham and says Alistair Johnston cannot be sold before the Champions League play-off matches. Daily Record - subscription required, external

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Martin O'Neill is sure new signings Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh can combine to good effect at Celtic, while suggesting it may require a move away from the 4-3-3 formation favoured by the Scottish champions.

Both players operate as central strikers, while Duran, who has scored three goals in three friendly outings, was occasionally deployed as a winger by former club Qarabag.

"I would think that, given time, the two players should be able to play together without a problem," said manager O'Neill.

"I don't know whether that means changing systems, changing all that type of stuff, but, you know, they're good players."

On Duran, the manager added: "Yes, he can break off wide as well, so that's encouraging. I'm not so sure that's eventually where I want him to play.

"We might have to do that for the time being. But I see him being able to play as a striker or just off the striker."

In his first spell at Celtic from 2000-05, O'Neill had Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson among his options up front.

"We played a sort of a 3-5-2 for a lot of times," he said, reflecting on that time.

"But then we changed it when some teams cottoned on to it, in European matches as well. And then we ended up changing to 4-4-2. We played that very often. But we had serious running power wide, which was great in those days.

"If it meant us having to adjust to get them [Duran and Hogh] to play together, that shouldn't be a problem. Famous last words, but it shouldn't be.

"And this is the point. We should be able to adapt. We've played this 4-3-3 system for quite some considerable time. It's been successful, which is fine, but we should be able to adapt during the course of the game. It's only a matter of changing people 10 yards in, 10 yards out.

"There's not much more to it than that."

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been talking to the media before Monday's Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• O'Neill confirms West Ham have bid for midfielder Arne Engels, although it "doesn't remotely meet our valuation".

• He also says Everton have "been in contact" regarding right-back Alistair Johnston and revealed he spoke to David Moyes last week about the Canada defender.

• O'Neill stressed Celtic's aim is to try to keep both players and said it would be a "difficult task" to replace them, "but it's difficult to stop people if their ambition is to play in a big, big league".

• He says there is the "same buzz, same excitement, same fears, same everything" as ever before the start of the new season.

• Kasper Hogh is a "bit of a character" and O'Neill hopes the club's record signing will be "really good" for Celtic.

• O'Neill quipped he has "never been confident" when it comes to transfer windows, but reinforcements are needed regardless of whether players leave.

• He says the club are "pressing" for new players and believes they are capable of getting deals over the line.

• The 74-year-old believes Hogh and Camilo Duran are capable of playing together and wants Celtic to be flexible when it comes to using different systems.

• O'Neill recalled how difficult matches against Dundee were last season and expects a similar test this time around.

• Team news: Benjamin Nygren is back and available, while Auston Trusty only returned to training earlier this week after "family issues" in the United States. Liam Scales is suspended.

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Martin O'Neill views his role as stabilising Celtic, trying to retain the Scottish title and getting good results in Europe while signing players good enough to satisfy his successor as manager.

The 74-year-old Northern Irishman was given the job permanently after winning a league and cup double at the end of his second spell as caretaker during a traumatic season.

But he told BBC Radio 4: "I am obviously not getting any younger. This is not a long-term project for me.

"I am not really Celtic's future for the next number of years. That's absolutely certain."

However, O'Neill agreed that the buck stops with him "until we stabilise things again and maybe try to improve the team".

Asked about the possibility of helping pick his successor, he replied: "I don't know anything about that. Let me try to win some football matches, otherwise I'll not be at the football club at all."

O'Neill, whose side start their bid to retain the title at home to Dundee on Monday, admits it will "be exceptionally difficult" to improve on the finish to last season given other clubs will be getting stronger too.

Celtic have signed two players so far this summer, with Denmark striker Kasper Hogh joining for a club record fee after the arrival of Colombian forward Camilo Duran.

"I'm hoping the players we bring into the football club are players that the next manager would actually think 'they're pretty decent'," O'Neill added.

"Some of the players we've brought in I think are going to do that. A manager coming in, let's say next season, doesn't want to find out that four or five players are on three-year deals and they are not to his requirement."

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Former Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley thinks the Scottish champions splashing out a club-record fee on Kasper Hogh could prove to be a bargain.

The 25-year-old Denmark striker, who fired in a goal every other game for Bodo/Glimt, has signed a four-year contract with Martin O'Neill's side.

Hartley has also tipped him as an early favourtie to finish as the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership given his previous pedigree for big goals.

Hogh's arrival followed the signing of Colombian forward Camilo Duran, with both new additions finding the net five times in the Champions League last season.

"I like the quality. Kasper Hogh, I think he's going to be a top player. I think he's going to be a snip at 11 million quid," Hartley, who played for Celtic between 2007 and 2009, said.

"If you look at his record, Champions League record, who he scored against, I think he'll be a brilliant signing for them.

"I just think you look at his goalscoring record, but he's played, he's scored at the highest level.

"That's not easy to do. He scored against Manchester City, scored against Atletico Madrid. Big Champions League games and also his league record.

"I think Celtic have got a brilliant signing on their hands.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he finishes top goalscorer."

Boca Juniors have received an offer of £900,000 from Houston Dynamo for 60% of the rights to Marcelo Saracchi, the 27-year-old left-back who spent last season on loan to Celtic. (El Intransigente, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Kasper Hogh says he had to trust his gut when committing to a Celtic move.

A record signing for the club, the 25-year-old arrives with the pedigree of an elite-level striker, having scored 54 goals in 103 games for Norwegians Bodo/Glimt, five of which were in last season's Champions League.

Many fans had wanted the club to make a move for Hogh for some time, and Hogh admits he had to go with his intuition before penning a four-year deal.

The Denmark international, who is set for a debut in Monday's Premiership opener at home to Dundee, said: "It feels amazing. I just saw the pitch and it looks amazing. I got goosebumps.

"When I heard about the interest from Celtic, I was happy. It's about the gut feeling and the feeling here was good, so I'm happy I ended up here.

"I just try to take one day at a time and I will do my best and enjoy every day.

"I've had a talk with the gaffer and I've met all the boys so it feels like it's a good match. I'm also looking forward to meeting the fans.

"They will get a happy boy who likes to play football, work for the team and goals and be in the box."

In last season's Champions League, Hogh grabbed a double in a 3-1 win over Manchester City and the following week netted again in a 2-1 victory at Atletico Madrid.

He will be tasked with firing Celtic back to the top level of European competition, with the club set to learn their play-off opponents on Monday.

"It was an amazing journey we had with Bodo/Glimt, I had good team-mates also," Hogh added.

"This is a big club Celtic, we have to qualify first [for Champions League], I take it one day at a time but you are allowed to dream of course."

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Celtic's potential Champions League play-off opponents became slightly clearer after the latest second qualifying round ties, including a stunning comeback win by Danish champions AGF Aarhus.

The Scottish champions already knew that Norwegian counterparts Viking Stavanger and Austria's LASK are potential opponents as both have automatically qualified for the play-off round and will be on the unseeded side of Monday's draw.

However, three other potential opponents will be decided by matches with first legs on 4/5 August and second legs on 11 August.

AGF were 4-1 down from their first leg at home to Polish champions Lech Poznan but stunned their hosts by scoring three times in 90 minutes to take the tie into extra time on Wednesday.

Lech, for whom former Celtic winger Luis Palma played the first 68 minutes, scored first in extra-time, but the Danes equalised before winning the penalty shoot-out.

It means AGF face Sabah in the third round of qualifying, with the Azerbaijan champions having won 2-0 away to Finnish counterparts KuPS on Tuesday for a 3-0 aggregate win.

Celtic could also face the winners of the tie between Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan and Levski Sofia of Bulgaria.

Levski beat Universitatea Craiova 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw in Romania.

Meanwhile, Kairat beat Omonia Nicosia after a penalty shoot-out following a 1-0 home win levelled the tie with the Cypriots at 1-1.

One final possible opponent for Celtic could come from the tie between Celje of Slovenia and Aarat-Armenia.

Celje beat Albania's Egnatia Rrogozhinë on penalties after a 2-2 draw at home that levelled the tie at 5-5 on aggregate.

The Armenian champions won 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat away to Shamrock Rovers.

Everton, whose Scotland right-back, Nathan Patterson, is drawing strong interest from clubs in Germany, Italy and Spain, are preparing to firm up their interest in Celtic 27-year-old Alistair Johnston. (The Herald, external)

Mika Baur has informed Paderborn of his desire to join Celtic this summer after the 22-year-old midfielder agreed personal terms with the Scottish champions. (George Tsarouchas on X, external)

Mika Baur missed Paderborn's friendly with Southampon on Wednesday, but the German club's claim that the Celtic target was ill is not accurate. (Mark Hendry on X, external)

Marcelo Saracchi is poised to clinch a move to Houston Dynamo after the 28-year-old left-back's loan from Boca Juniors to Celtic. (Daily Record, external)

Out-of-favour 26-year-old Atalanta wing-back Mitchel Bakker, who had been linked with Celtic, is close to joining Marseille, according to reports in France. (Daily Record, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Martin O'Neill is prioritising quality over quantity as Celtic prepare to defend their Scottish Premiership title.

The Parkhead side have made two signings this summer - Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh - for reported combined fees of around £15m.

However, talismanic forward Daizen Maeda has left to join Ipswich Town and O'Neill is keen to get high-calibre players through the door sooner rather than later.

Celtic have been linked extensively with Real Oviedo and Egypt winger Haissem Hassan as well as Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur.

"I think we're trying to get some quality into the football club," O'Neill told Sky Sports.

"We've lost Daizen, he was a big, big player for us and so we have to replace him and I think that we're doing our best to do that.

"We will get some more players in, there's no question about that also but yeah, I want quality rather than quantity."

Celtic spent a club record fee to land Hogh from Bodo/Glimt and O'Neill is excited to see what the Denmark forward will bring.

"I think it's great news for us in the football club and I think it's great news for the fans," he said.

"We want to try and improve our goal scoring obviously and I think he's the man to do it.

"I'm hoping that he will get help throughout the whole time and we're not just relying on him. Hopefully the goals will be shared around a little bit but if he is the main man, I hope he comes up."

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Striker Callum Osmand aims to continue to repaying Martin O'Neill's faith in him after a "whirlwind" first year at Celtic.

Osmand, 20, was signed from Fulham by Brendan Rodgers last summer but didn't make his debut until O'Neill's first interim spell in October.

He then scored in the League Cup semi-final victory over Rangers and started the Europa League victory at Midtjylland, but suffered a serious hamstring injury in that game and spent six months out.

The striker returned just in time for the end of the season and memorably scored the third goal in the dying seconds of the final-day decider against Hearts as Celtic won the title in dramatic style.

"It was a whirlwind," Osmand told Sky Sports of his first year in Glasgow.

"It went from me having 10 days of bliss, I jumped straight in, and then it got taken away from me which was tough. But I think I needed that to learn some things about the club, that showed me how big it really is and what the club means to everybody."

On O'Neill, Osmand added: "That's all you can ask for, someone who will give you that opportunity and that chance.

"Hopefully I get another one this season but I'll be ready whenever he calls upon me. It is massive knowing he trusts you and believes in you."

Celtic have added firepower this summer with strikers Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran the club's only summer arrivals.

But Osmand is hoping he can hold down a place in the team.

"I see myself as quite versatile," he added.

"I can play wherever is needed across the front. I will do what I do every day, keep pushing and trying to stake my claim. We've got two new lads, they're great people as well as good footballers."

Celtic fans, we asked you for your thoughts on new club-record signing Kasper Hogh.

Overall for Bodo/Glimt, the Denmark striker - who has one goal in four caps for his country - has averaged a goal every other game, netting 54 times in 103 matches.

Here is a selection of your views on the club's record addition:

Calum: Promising signing but also a potentially charged one. With so few options, an injury or an underperformance from one of these two signings (although Camilo Duran has looked class so far) has the potential to bring things with the fans to boiling point. A lot is resting on Hogh's shoulders.

Patrick: Seems like a great signing. A proven goalscorer at the top level is what we've needed for a while. Let's hope he hits the ground running and can make up for the loss of Daizen Maeda.

Kel: Great signing. Need three to four more but he and Duran are excellent players and the level of quality we should be signing.

Paul: Optimistic about Hogh. His Bodo/Glimt record is good and the Norwegian league isn't weaker than the SPFL. While we undoubtedly need a stronger squad with defensive cover across the park; a new central defender and full-back cover essential, plus an improvement to Callum McGregor in midfield (great servant and still capable but best days behind him). If Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers are fully fit that's a huge boost, and CCV will bring much-needed security to the back four, with Alistair Johnson (if we can keep him) and Kieran Tierney if he remains fit.