Former Celtic striker Scott McDonald has called for the club to sign two proven goalscorers as part of a necessary overhaul of their attacking options. Speaking from his home in the Gold Coast, Australia, McDonald emphasized that Celtic require forwards with established track records to regain their championship-winning form.
McDonald, who joined Celtic in 2007 for £700,000 and scored 63 goals over two and a half years, highlighted the challenges faced by strikers at the club and the importance of having a player who can consistently deliver 20 or more goals per season. He pointed to the previous success of players like Kyogo Furuhashi, the last Celtic forward to reach that milestone, and stressed that the club’s recent front-line options have often been stop-gap solutions rather than long-term answers.
Martin O’Neill’s side has been linked with Qarabag’s Camilo Duran, who scored five goals in last season’s Champions League, as a potential new signing. With Kelechi Iheanacho having departed and Daizen Maeda likely to follow, McDonald believes Celtic must invest wisely, bringing in at least two high-quality forwards rather than rushing into signings that lack experience or proven ability.
“The club needs at least two number nines and more attacking players,” McDonald said, noting uncertainty over the future of current squad members such as Daizen Maeda, Ismail Yazici, and Seb Tounekti. He also remarked on the intense pressure Celtic strikers face, which has caused several recent recruits, including Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu, to struggle.
According to McDonald, succeeding at Celtic demands more than just scoring ability; an elite mentality and the ability to perform under scrutiny are crucial. He recalled the importance of positioning and understanding the team’s style, which enables forwards to capitalize on scoring opportunities. “If you can be in the right areas, then you score goals,” he said.
The former forward suggested that the club must balance bringing in a clinical goalscorer with players who contribute to the overall team play. Citing the example of Kyogo’s goal-scoring prowess paired with Adam Idah’s broader involvement, McDonald argued that a variety of attacking options are vital for sustained success.
He also referenced young talents such as Johnny Kenny and Callum Osmand, acknowledging their potential but cautioning against placing the burden of leading the attack on their shoulders prematurely.
Celtic supporters, according to McDonald, are growing frustrated by the lack of activity in the transfer market, but he believes behind-the-scenes negotiations are ongoing. He concluded that for Celtic to challenge for the Scottish Premiership crown again, the club must make more decisive and impactful acquisitions than in recent seasons.