Celtic’s search for a striker last summer was not very enjoyable.
Failed pursuits of Louis Munteanu and Kasper Dolberg eventually left Brendan Rodgers scrambling in the free agent market.
This led him to Kelechi Iheanacho – but this wasn’t the only free agent the Hoops were looking at. Two former England strikers were also on the agenda.
One of them, Jamie Vardy, ended up making a successful move to Serie A with Cremonese. The other, Patrick Bamford, eventually joined Sheffield United.
Bamford has been among the goals at Brammall Lane – so much so that their move to sign him could now backfire.
Name three players you would sell in the current Celtic side
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Celtic-linked Patrick Bamford could move in January
32-year-old Bamford didn’t start a single league game for Leeds last season and was released in the summer.
The Blades took a chance on him, and have been rewarded with five goals in ten appearances.
READ MORE: Hayato Inamura says there are ‘things he can’t say’ in cold reflection on Celtic move
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However, United signed Bamford on a short-term contract which will expire after their match against Mansfield on Sunday.
According to Alan Nixon, this has piqued the interest of Ipswich Town and other Championship clubs who could now look at taking the striker on a free.
It was reported in early September that Celtic had made an ‘enquiry’ for Bamford over a potential free transfer, but in the end, they opted for Iheanacho.
The Nigerian forward has looked more than capable when involved, but his fitness has proved a real barrier to him finding momentum.
Bamford made over 200 appearances for Leeds United between 2018 and 2025, earning a call-up for England in 2021.
He would be far from the trendiest choice if Celtic were to go for him, but this is Celtic that we’re talking about…
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Martin O’Neill on signing a striker with Celtic
Interim Hoops boss Martin O’Neill knows as well as anyone that the team is in need of reinforcements.
He told the media on Tuesday: “Of course if you could sign all the players that you’d want to have, it would be great, and it doesn’t work like that.
“I generally work within the parameters of the club, but I’d be hoping that now we’re in a bit of difficulty, we have to fight back, and I would say the same to the board.
“I think we’re all aware, and so are the fans, that we do, the squad needs strengthening, if we can do.
“We’re going all out to try and do that.
“I would be hoping for it, but if the board were to listen to me, then we would have about 56 players, so I will try and narrow it down.
“I think you’d be aware, of what positions we need to strengthen in, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.
“It’s a difficult window, and in terms of buying players, things like this here, that’ll be difficult, but we do need, we do need to supplement the squad, absolutely no question about that.”
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