Celtic remain financially healthy after years of domestic dominance, but Sutton argues that late spending will not automatically solve the squad’s weaknesses.
The point is not that every signing must arrive before pre-season. It is that Celtic need a clearer plan. A promising attacker is welcome, but the wider squad requires more than one solution.
The uncertainty could become more serious if key players leave. Martin O’Neill has indicated that Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate could move on, while Callum McGregor’s future remains unclear.
That would leave Celtic replacing leadership, creativity and attacking threat at the same time. The previous exits of Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kühn should have encouraged earlier action, yet the pursuit of Kelechi Iheanacho ended without an agreement. Celtic allowed their option to expire before Bursaspor secured the striker on a longer deal.
Michael Nicholson has acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating with agents and competing with English clubs. That challenge is real, but Sutton believes it cannot become a permanent explanation.
Celtic need to identify targets earlier, widen their scouting network and make decisions before the final days of the window. The next transfer move will show whether the club has learned that lesson before the first competitive fixtures arrive.