CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan has calmed fears over the club's progress in the transfer market by insisting he could make new signings before Sunday's league opener against St Mirren.
The SPL champions signed winger Pat McCourt from Derry City in June and clinched a permanent deal for Georgios Samaras following the striker's loan from Manchester City.
But Strachan is determined to bring in more new faces, and there could severa
l players moving in at Parkhead before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Reports yesterday suggested that the club is on the verge of agreeing a deal with Auxerre for Romanian international defender Gabriel Tamas, while the clubs is still in negotiations with Barcelona to bring 20-year-old midfielder Marc Crosas to Parkhead.
Strachan said: "We are trying our best to sign players at the moment. (Chief executive) Peter Lawwell is active at the moment, working very hard.
"From the players' point of view I'm hopeful the squad can be added to before the start of the season. If it doesn't I get on with it.
"It's unfair to talk about targets. Let's just say we are active in quite a few places."
Meanwhile, fresh from Celtic's 3-1 friendly win against Feyenoord, Aiden McGeady has insisted that playing in the Champions League has been the key to his rapid rise.
The Republic of Ireland winger has gone from strength to strength in the past year, capping last season's title-winning medal with a double Player of the Year award.
And McGeady reckons the dramatic improvement in his game is down to the experience of facing Europe's top stars year in, year out.
The 22-year-old signed a new five-year contract a fortnight ago and was on form again as Celtic brushed past their Dutch opponents in easily their most impressive pre-season display. Now McGeady is determined to carry his form into the Celtic's European campaign this term. McGeady said: "It's different playing in the Champions League because the standard's a lot higher.
"There's been a change in my attitude because of that experience. I think, maybe, that I used to shirk my defensive responsibilities. But, particularly at Champions League level, you can't get away with not working hard."
The full article contains 384 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
