Ronny Deila issues Celtic warning

Celtic winning the Scottish Premiership

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Celtic’s summer transfer dealings may have to wait until after the Champions League qualifiers take placed, according to manager Ronny Deila.

The Norwegian concluded his first season in Glasgow by collecting the Scottish Premiership trophy after his team dispatched Inverness 5-0 on Sunday.

Deila is fully aware that his tenure in Scotland is likely to be judged on his ability to get Celtic back into the Champions League.

The Hoops will return to action in July with the first of three qualifiers that separate them from a place at European football’s top table, but Deila says his key summer signings may not arrive until much later in the transfer window.

He says it would ideal to get new players in before the qualifiers begin, but it is unlikely to be the case.

“That’s what we want but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Deila said. “There is a break after the last round of Champions League qualification. You have six days (until the end of the transfer window) and if we are in the Champions League then you can possibly do something.”

The Celtic boss seems resigned to the fact that attracting the type of quality players that will improve his squad is reliant on the club first securing Champions League football.

“It’s a hard business and it’s getting harder and harder, these transfer windows,” he said. “It takes your energy as well but it’s an important thing.”

Celtic missed out on the chance to complete a domestic treble when they were eliminated from Scottish Cup at the semi-final stage by Inverness.

John Hughes’ team face Falkirk at Hampden Park on Saturday in the final and they are 1.57 to win the Scottish Cup final.

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