Ange Postecoglou will have an early chance to lay down a marker on Wednesday as Celtic face their first pre-season friendly in Wales.
The Australian has been working the Hoops squad hard over the last few days but the moment the fixture is done, he must focus on transfers again.
What’s the word?
With Celtic’s first Champions League qualifying match rapidly approaching, Postecoglou needs to get as much business concluded before that day.
A European run would be lucrative for the club and would give the new boss a big chance to impress and make up for the torrid season they endured in 2020/21.
One player who could feature in that qualifying run is Aaron Hickey. According to a new report from the Scottish Sun, Celtic are confident of signing the player and expect to strike a deal with Bologna in the coming days.
The Bhoys have reportedly laid £3.5m on the table but the Italian side are looking for a fee nearer to €8m (£6.8m) for his services.
A tremendous signing
If Postecoglou and Dominic McKay can get this deal over the line then it would surely leave supporters absolutely elated.
After all, the club are hardly well stacked in a full-back position heading into the new campaign.
Greg Taylor and Boli Bolingoli will battle it out of a place on the left flank during pre-season but we’ve already suggested that the latter doesn’t deserve to have a place under the new management.
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Taylor is hardly a pillar of consistency either, struggling to nail down a permanent role in the team despite the questionable performances of Diego Laxalt last term.
Hickey, on the other hand, could bring greater consistency to the left-hand side of the Celtic XI.
The youngster may only be 19 years of age but he is a player wise beyond his years, and somebody who could replicate what Kieran Tierney brought to Celtic.
Now a rampant beast for Arsenal and Scotland, he loves roaming forward in search of driving to the byline and providing a cross.
Hickey doesn’t possess the same level as pace but he’s still capable of driving forward and beating his man.
Though, the defender is also tactically aware. Speaking about his game, former Hearts boss Daniel Stendal commented: “Aaron as a player is like Philipp Lahm.”
Stendel concluded: "For me at Hearts, he played as a full-back. He not only runs up and down the line, but looks for attacking moves like Lahm once did. And Aaron can also play in the central midfield. Trust me, he will have a great career.”
The full-back left Celtic when he was just 16 so to bring him back now he’s developed and become a first-team regular should delight supporters. It’s not often you earn a second bite of the cherry with somebody you let go at such a young age.