Celtic hopeful of big summer transfer kitty

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill yesterday expressed cautious optimism at the possibility of being handed a near £15 million (€21.8m) to spend on new players during the summer.

The board are said to be examining ways to finance a significant summer overhaul of the squad with several of his highest-earning players set to depart.

O’Neill has - at the board’s request - compiled a list of signing targets. And, while the Celtic boss remains unsure about the likely size of his summer transfer kitty, he admits that he has been buoyed by suggestions that major shareholder Dermot Desmond is preparing to underwrite an issue of preference shares which could boost the club’s finances by around £15m.