Paul Lambert, a former captain of Scottish Championship side Celtic, says the club needs between £8 million and £10 million in rebuilding during this summer’s transfer window.
“Celtic is not a development club, it’s a winning club where you have to win titles. You have to compete.
“You have to compete domestically, and you have to compete in European terms,” says Lambert, who captained Celtic during manager Martin O’Neill’s first spell at the club.
The former captain said Celtic are currently nowhere near good enough without further recruitment – but added that there is no need for “panic.”
Striker Camilo Duran is the sole summer arrival so far for the Scottish champions, while midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a new contract after a short-term deal last term.
But forward Kelechi Iheanacho and former left-back loanee Marcelo Saracchi, who had been linked with returns, will not be back in Glasgow this season.
Iheanacho has joined Bursaspor as a free agent, while Saracchi bade farewell to Celtic fans on social media and said he and his agent “did absolutely everything within our power to make a return to Glasgow happen”.
Also, Maik Nawrocki, the German centre-half, has been sold to Lens.
“The squad’s not strong enough,” Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.
Michael Nicholson, Celtic’s chief executive, disclosed earlier that the Scottish champions is finding it “difficult” to attract top players.
According to him, Scottish champions are competing with English Premier League and Championship clubs for players and dealing with agents.
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