Martin O’Neill could have done without losing Cameron Carter-Vickers. Celtic are preparing for another European test against Benfica, and the manager is already having to reshuffle his defence.

The transfer window is shut until January, although players without contracts remain an option. There are former Premier League stars, international footballers and familiar Scottish Premiership names looking for clubs.

Some have impressive CVs but their recent playing records are far less convincing.

How high is the bar for Colby Donovan, and what can he achieve in his career?

Celtic should stay well away from the free-agent market

When Tiemoue Bakayoko’s name was put to O’Neill, the Celtic manager made it clear he had no plans to sign the former Chelsea midfielder. Bakayoko has played for Chelsea, Monaco and AC Milan. His most recent competitive appearance, though, was back in November 2024.

Beni Baningime is available after leaving Hearts in the summer. The midfielder helped the Edinburgh club finish second last season, but injuries have disrupted his career.

Hearts confirmed that Baningime made just 127 appearances across five years at Tynecastle. His serious knee injury kept him out for a lengthy period, and Celtic would be taking another risk on his fitness.

Dexter Lembikisa has his own problems. Wolves let the 22-year-old Jamaican international go in the summer after his spell at Hearts and further loan moves failed to establish him as a regular starter.

Wolves also mentioned his injury setbacks when he left. Celtic would be signing a player who still has plenty to prove at a time when O’Neill needs someone ready to play.

UEFA rules make a Celtic free-agent deal even less attractive

Under UEFA’s Europa League registration rules, clubs had until 2 September to submit their squads for the league phase.

Any free agent outfield player Celtic signed now would be ineligible for the remaining league-phase fixtures, including Thursday’s match against Benfica.

Even UEFA’s exceptional provision for replacing a player suffering a long-term injury requires the replacement to have been registered with the club before that September deadline.

Celtic could therefore add somebody to their domestic squad without being able to use him in Europe.

O’Neill already has young players capable of providing cover. Liam Scales recently backed Dane Murray to establish himself after the defender stepped into the team against Motherwell.

Murray didn’t look out of place against Motherwell. If Celtic are going to give minutes to an unproven defender, they might as well give them to one who is already at the club.

Celtic cannot afford to repeat their summer recruitment mistakes

O’Neill revealed that Celtic missed out on first-choice transfer targets during the summer. That failure should be driving the club’s preparations for January, not encouraging another round of short-term deals.

The three players examined here show why caution is justified. Bakayoko hasn’t played competitively for almost two years, Baningime has endured serious injury problems and Lembikisa has yet to establish himself at a level that suggests he would strengthen Celtic.

Free transfers aren’t automatically bad business. Celtic have benefited from them before, and an exceptional player becoming available would deserve consideration.

But there is little value in handing out contracts to footballers whose recent records raise more questions than answers. And from what is available out there, Celtic are as well using players from within.

O’Neill needs players capable of improving his team, not names supporters recognise from several seasons ago. January gives Celtic the chance to identify proper targets and address the weaknesses that were left unresolved during the summer.

Celtic supporters have already watched the club miss out on players the manager wanted.

They shouldn’t have to watch more money being spent on short-term gambles because the recruitment department failed to get its business done when it had the chance.