Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton believes his former club’s shock exit from the League Cup at the weekend was down to the Hoops’ poor transfer business.

Jota and Carl Starfelt have both left the club this summer and Sutton claims the failure to replace the pair adequately has cost Celtic dearly following their defeat to Kilmarnock:

“Celtic lost Jota who was a key player for them last season and haven’t really replaced him. That centre-back partnership, I don’t think they lost a domestic game with Carter-Vickers and Starfelt. Carter-Vickers pulled a hamstring last week or has a hamstring injury, and Starfelt was sold to Celta Vigo.”

“You are thinking why are you letting a player of that ilk go when there are important games coming up at the start of the season? Out the League Cup, that’s a big blow for Brendan Rodgers. Should they have acted in the recruitment market and brought a bit more quality in? I think they should have done.”

Celtic need quality over quantity

If you look at the squad purely on numbers, you can’t say that the likes of Jota and Starfelt haven’t been replaced. In fact, two wingers (Marcos Tilio and Yang Hyun-jun) have arrived to make up for Jota’s departure, while Gustav Lagerbielke has been recruited following Starfelt’s sale.

However, it has to be said that the signings brought in are unproven talents. If Celtic really are to compete for domestic titles, let alone in their Champions League group, the quality of the squad needs improving before the transfer window shuts.

Some of the names being linked do sound promising

Both Tottenham’s Eric Dier and Wolves’ Daniel Podence have been mentioned as possible targets over the past week and they would offer the injection of quality that the Hoops desperately need.

It is debatable whether the Scottish champions are prepared to push the boat out to sign either but, if they do, it would certainly demonstrate the club’s ambition.