Loan moves beneficial for Tilio and other Celtic fringe player.

A loan spell away from Lennoxtown could be beneficial to Marco Tilio and indeed numerous others who have found their access to the Celtic first team blocked for one reason or another.

Reliable journalist Scott Burns reported earlier today that Celtic summer signing Marco Tilio was targeting a loan spell in January if he can’t break into Brendan’s first team plans ahead of the transfer window opening. Tilio made his return for the Socceroos U23s over the weekend and afterwards spoke about looking for a loan move if he can’t break into the side before the end of the year.

That would be a wise move for the Socceroos winger to get some game time under his belt and get used to the physicality of the Scottish game. Not only Marco, but others such as Kwon, who had such a high opinion of himself when he signed, look well out of the picture regarding Brendan’s first team plans at this moment.

We have a big squad – it’s far too big – and certain players will find it hard to even make the bench once we have a fully fit squad. Indeed some have already found that to be the case when Celtic’s injury list was significant.

It also asks question regarding the much vilified B side who of course take part in the Lowland League, an idea that hadn’t worked and an alternative solution needs to be found. Perhaps the highest profile player in the Celtic B team is young Rocco Vata who as we have talked about over the past few weeks, was training with the first team but has been pushed back down to the B Team this season, presumably because there was no room at the Lennoxtown Inn given the size of the first team squad.

That’s a backward step for Celtic and it’s no surprise that we are losing our best Academy players rather than develop them for the first team which surely is the point? Yet Celtic must look at it and say ‘can we find a place for the Academy player in the first team squad?’ and the answer is often no. Is the player good enough, sometimes you have got to give them the stage to see what they can do.

In previous eras Celtic would bring on youngsters from the reserves when the team was winning comfortably, so the risk was low. Now players like Vata can’t even get to train with the first team never mind get a place on the bench with the hope of some minutes to show what they can do.

The Lowland League – which Celtic pay to play in – is maybe beneficial to youngsters learning their trade, but does nothing for players who are at the next stage and looking for their break in the first team or a move away to play somewhere else, as in the case of Ben Doak and quite a few others.

Maybe a time to think again about taking part in the lower leagues or starting more tie ups like the one we have with Austrian side Admira Wacker? Those options would be more beneficial to the players and the club. Getting first team experience in a decent level is one that is worth exploring.

Brendan Rodgers has stated that he wants quality rather than quantity going forward in the transfer windows, so we can expect to see more players leaving that come in. That’s going to be a positive step forward for the club but the Celtic Academy players should always have a foot in the door with the players knowing that if they work hard enough and show enough potential then there is a viable opportunity to play for Celtic

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Signing season is racing into view and we have you covered with all the latest news, rumours and potential done deals.

There’s only 32 shopping days left and all Premiership managers want for Christmas is a new striker. Or maybe a star midfielder or no-nonsense defender.

But will they get what they want as top flight chairmen work through the festive wish lists of their managers? Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers could certainly do with a striker, even if just for the short term with the Asian Cup proving a bit of a headache for the Irishman as Kyogo and Oh prepare to head to the tournament.

Bologna frontman Sydney van Hooijdonk, son of former Hoops striker Pierre, has seen interest supposedly reignited, while Mikey Johnston’s man of the match performance for Ireland sent a pointed reminder over his attacking options. One area he isn’t short in is defence with Japanese star Yuki Kobayashi set to join Marco Tilio in seeking a January loan according to reports.

Philippe Clement has a busy Rangers squad after a glut of summer signings, with Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland continuing to be an option for some fans. An old foe in Kevin Van Veen also revealed there was interest in his services from Ibrox last season. Meanwhile highly-rated Ross McCausland, as revealed by Record Sport, is being monitored by Brentford while some clubs in Serie A are reportedly keen with the Gers looking to tie him down.

Hearts boss Steven Naismith will want to get more freedom in the market while his adversary Nick Montgomery looking for attacking firepower at Hibs.

Aberdeen brought in fifteen new faces, but with European football over after Christmas, the squad looks bloated. Barry Robson may look to put results first before eyeing changes to his contingent.

Jota could end his Al Ittihad nightmare soon with transfer options on the table.

Hearts boss Steven Naismith will prioritise the signing of a new right back in the January transfer window with an “attack-minded” player also in his thoughts, he revealed in an interview with Edinburgh Evening News.

I’m comfortable with the majority of the squad and I’m comfortable with where we sit. We do need to strengthen the right-back position, especially with Odel’s situation. We need to recruit in that department. In the forward areas, there is a bit we could potentially look at but it’s not urgent.

The two main things I’m thinking about are: Right-back, and then that slight bit more experience. That’s not a 32-year-old guy who has been around, it’s somebody mid-20s who has a level of consistency. In our squad, there is that area – whatever position it may be in – where if the right player was available who we thought could improve us, then we would think about doing something.

Overall, I think we have a really good group. We have versatility in a lot of areas with players who can play in more than one position. It’s about time now, getting these players the right amount of minutes and pushing them on – rather than saying we need to recruit this or that.

The Italian coach has been a roaring success since joining the Premier League outfit just over a year ago, and now it seems his exploits have caught the eye of Europe’s biggest sides.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, De Zerbi is the preferred candidate to replace current Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, with the Italian’s contract at the Bernabeu set to expire at the end of the current season, and talks have already taken place.

It remains to be seen how much it might cost Real Madrid to free De Zerbi from Brighton, with his Seagulls deal due to run until 2026.