Celtic did not enjoy a successful and to the summer transfer window on paper after they failed to bring in the centre-forward recruits that they wanted.
The Hoops wanted to bring in two new strikers, as they allowed Adam Idah to sign for Swansea, but failed to sign any before they snapped Kelechi Iheanacho up on a free transfer the day after deadline day.
Such was the level of frustration from sections of the fanbase, Celtic felt they needed to put out a lengthy statement explaining why they did not land their targets and why they did not invest before the Champions League qualifying clash with Kairat.
That is all in the past, now, though, and supporters may end up looking back on the summer transfer window more favourably if some of the signings continue to shine on the pitch.
For example, the signing of Sebastian Tounekti from Hammarby on deadline day is already looking like a fantastic piece of business by the Hoops.
The Scottish giants reportedly splashed out a fee of £5.2m to sign the winger from the Swedish side, and that looks like a bargain on early evidence.
Why Sebastian Tounekti looks like a bargain signing for Celtic
The speed at which Tounekti has settled into life in Glasgow has been astonishing, as he looks like he has been playing in Scottish football and in hoops for years.
His performances in training must have been as impressive as what the forward has shown on the pitch, because Brendan Rodgers was willing to chuck him straight into the starting line-up against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.
Tounekti signed for the club on deadline day, jetted away to play for Tunisia, then returned to start against Kilmarnock after only a few training sessions with his new teammates.
Minutes
88
58
Touches
67
34
Shots
5
0
Chances created
4
1
Dribbles completed
5/9
0/1
Duels won
6
1
That is why his performance, which was significantly better than fellow new signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s, was particularly impressive on his league debut.
The electric winger was a constant threat down the left flank for the Hoops with his willingness to drive at and take on defenders with the ball at his feet, as illustrated by his five completed dribbles in comparison to Balikwisha’s none.
That impressive display from the Tunisia international left him undroppable for the League Cup clash with Partick Thistle, irrespective of the fact that they were up against Championship opposition and could have rested him.
Tounekti left supporters excited to see more of him and Rodgers obliged. The winger did not let him down. He grabbed his first goal for the club in a 4-0 win for the Hoops on Sunday.
The 23-year-old dynamo, after just two appearances for the club, already looks like a bargain signing because of the quality that he has produced on the wing.
He also has the left wing position locked down and appears undroppable on current form, which may have a knock-on effect for other players in the squad.
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The Celtic star who currently looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti’s rapid rise to stardom at Parkhead is the 2024/25 Premiership Player of the Season, Daizen Maeda.
Why Maeda is the biggest loser of Tounekti's Celtic form
As aforementioned, the Tunisian star has shone on the left flank for the Hoops in their last two games, which means that the position is his for now.
Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho has delivered a last-minute winner, albeit from the penalty spot, and an assist in his first two appearances for the club as a centre-forward, which was clearly a position that the club wanted to strengthen in.
This has left Maeda in a bit of an awkward spot, because he mainly played as a left-winger last season and has mainly played as a centre-forward this season, per Transfermarkt.
The Japan international, was hailed as “phenomenal” and “built like a brick” by former Rangers boss Barry Ferguson, delivered an unquestionably outstanding return of 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, whilst starting as a left winger in 36 of those matches.
However, it remains to be seen whether that season was just a flash in the pan for Maeda. He only managed ten goals and four assists in 36 games in the 2023/24 campaign, per Transfermarkt, and has not a blinding start to the current term.
Appearances
34
5
Goals
16
1
Goals per game
0.5
0.2
Big chances missed
17
2
Conversion rate
28%
20%
Minutes per goal
160
372
As you can see in the table above, the Japanese forward has only scored once in the first five games of the current league season, missing two ‘big chances’ on the way.
Maeda’s inconsistency in front of goal throughout his Celtic career, taking his 11 goals from 49 matches from the 2022/23 season into account, suggests that supporters should not expect him to score 33 goals again this year.
This is why it should not be out of the question for Rodgers to unleash the 27-year-old star in a different role, as a right winger with Iheanacho through the middle and Tounekti on the left.
Maeda has started 22 matches as a right winger in his Celtic career, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he is capable of playing out wide on that side of the pitch.
So, for now, the Japan international appears to be the biggest loser of Tounekti’s rise to stardom because the reigning Premiership Player of the Year may have to play in a different position that is not his favoured one to be in the starting line-up in the short term.
