The Parkhead giants are in dire need of a man who knows where the goal is and Sutton has been asked about four potential targets in the winter window

20:30, 07 Jan 2026Updated 20:37, 07 Jan 2026

Tawanda Maswanhise of Motherwell

Chris Sutton insists Celtic need to ‘gamble’ in the remaining three weeks of the transfer window if they want to have any hope of retaining their Premiership crown.

And the Hoops legend has directly responded to questions about four potential strikers that the champions could target in the winter window. The champions currently trail leaders Hearts six points, with city rivals Rangers also three points clear of them in second spot.

Celts’ issues at the top of the pitch have been well-documented after their failure to bring in a new centre forward last summer. Daizen Maeda has been a shadow of the player who scooped up multiple awards after banging in 33 goals last season while Johnny Kenny has failed to convince fans that he can hold down the number nine shirt.

Martin O’Neill has returned for a third spell as boss until the end of the season following Wilfried Nancy’s doomed tenure and admits new signings are of paramount importance if they want to clinch a fifth straight championship. Sutton has urged the board to back his old manager this month and is open to the possibility of bringing Kyogo Furuhashi back to Parkhead, less than a year after he left the club to join Rennes in France.

Asked by punditry pal Kris Boyd about who Celtic could sign over the next three weeks on The Warm-Up podcast, he replied: “I just wonder whether Celtic should go for a Callum Wilson. I’d (also) take Kyogo back. I know things haven’t gone well for him at Birmingham City. I haven’t really got over (him leaving) that one but I don’t think I am alone.”

Boyd then threw two more names closer to home over to Record Sport columnist Sutton, and his response was receptive.

“I think you get better in than what you’ve got. I think if you said (Tawanda) Maswanhise as a central striker at Celtic, he’s better than anything Celtic have got. With Kieron Bowie, the same.

“Celtic have got to forget about planning for next season. The aim is to win the title, however they do it. Celtic have £75-80million in the bank, they have to gamble now. It’s getting serious and is getting away from them.

Chris Sutton

“Martin is well aware of that. Bringing him back, it would be really, deeply unfair on him if they didn’t back him. Everything in my sight tells me they are not going to let him down. It would be a real dereliction if the Celtic hierarchy didn’t back Martin O’Neill right now.”

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