Is Celtic's transfer approach really the best way?

[BBC] The summer transfer window officially opened on 15 June, 78 days ago. At the time of writing Celtic have just four new players to show for it. Four good players by the looks of things, that's important to note, but four all the same. An average of one signing roughly every 19 days. And while the official deadline for registering players for European competition doesn't arrive until Wednesday night, you could argue Celtic's real deadline passed some time ago. Because the window they truly needed to hit was the one that gave Martin O'Neill a stronger squad before the Champions League play-off. That opportunity is gone. After what happened against LASK, whatever Celtic manage to do in the final hours of the window will inevitably feel slightly hollow. You can't help but feel we've once again closed the Champions League door on ourselves after qualification has already bolted. However, that doesn't mean the remaining business is unimportant. Far from it. We can be frustrated and deflated about what happened in Austria while also recognising we can't wallow in it forever. There's a Scottish Premiership title to defend, the challenge of Europa League football and the prospect of further new arrivals by the close of the window. So now the focus has to turn to what Celtic can salvage from these final hours. And judging by the rumour mill there could be plenty happening. Midfielders Oliver Sorensen and Joel van den Berg appear to be among the most likely arrivals, while links with Gvidas Gineitis and Justin Devenny continue. Adding all four would seem excessive, but it at least suggests midfield remains a major priority. Further forward, teenage Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka is reportedly undergoing a medical ahead of a loan move, potentially providing cover amid further injury concerns for Callum Osmand and uncertainty around Johnny Kenny. Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has also been heavily linked with a season-long loan, although whether he would arrive as competition for Viljami Sinisalo or something more remains to be seen. And at full-back, Frankfurt's Niels Nkounkou and Feyenoord's Jordan Lotomba are among the names in circulation. Moves which would provide much-needed depth behind Kieran Tierney, Colby Donovan and the injured Alistair Johnston. That's no fewer than eight players strongly linked with a move to Glasgow in the final stages of the window. Maybe none arrive. Maybe several do. But regardless of how it plays out, the bigger issue is the process that has brought Celtic to this point. Any transfer can collapse at any time. A failed medical. A selling club changing its demands. Another team entering the race. An agent moving the goalposts. That's precisely why leaving so much business until the final hours is so dangerous. It leaves Celtic operating on a knife-edge. For a club that talks about being modern, ambitious and progressive, that cannot be the long-term approach. Like every supporter, I'll be excited if quality players arrive before the deadline, but once the dust settles, Celtic surely have to look back at this window and ask the bigger question - is this really the best way to do business? I think I know the answer to that, and I'd suspect in some quarters the club do too. Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange