da betobet： Celtic have earmarked a highly-rated forward as a ‘priority’ target this month as the Bhoys look to back Martin O’Neill and restore their faltering Scottish Premiership title bid.

da supremo： O’Neill marked his second return to Celtic with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Dundee United on Saturday, restoring calm after Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous 33-day reign.

The 73-year-old brought back the familiar 4-3-3 formation and watched his side dominate with 78 per cent possession and 22 shots at goal.

Goals from Hyun-Jun Yang and Arne Engels inside five first-half minutes set the tone before substitutes Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda completed the rout.

The win keeps Celtic six points behind leaders Hearts with 18 matches remaining in the title race.

O’Neill also maintained his perfect record against Dundee United, making it 20 wins from 20 against the Tannadice side since his first competitive match in July 2000. The victory provided a stark contrast to Nancy’s reign, which saw Celtic lose six of eight matches while conceding 18 goals.

Better signing than Bamba: Celtic pushing hard to sign "clinical" striker

Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a striker who would be a better addition than Mohamed Bamba this month.

ByDan Emery

However, O’Neill warned Celtic could be in serious trouble without January reinforcements.

The manager has reportedly made signing a striker his top priority, with inexperienced 22-year-old Johnny Kenny the only fit natural option following Kelechi Iheanacho’s recurring hamstring problems.

Celtic are even believed to be contenders to sign Callum Wilson as a free agent this month, but TEAMtalk reports that a Bundesliga striker is really catching their eye as well.

Celtic list Union Berlin star Andrej IIic as a 'priority' target

According to the outlet, Celtic are actively pursuing Union Berlin striker Andrej Ilic as O’Neill seeks urgent January additions.

The Serbian international has emerged as a ‘priority’ target for the Hoops, though securing his signature could prove to be an extremely ambitious challenge.

Ilic joined Union permanently last summer following a loan from Lille and has attracted interest from multiple clubs including Premier League side Burnley.

The forward boasts an impressive record of 72 goals in 192 career appearances, making him an appealing option to address Celtic’s striking shortage.

However, Union hold a strong negotiating position, with Ilic contracted until 2027.

More importantly, the Germans are also demanding around £9 million for the Serbia international, a fee that could complicate matters significantly for Celtic given the competition from other suitors.

A £9m move for IIlic would actually make him Celtic’s third-most expensive signing of all time, behind Jota and Arne Engels, who both cost eight-figure fees.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Celtic transfer insight Curious about Celtic’s pursuit of Andrej Ilic and other transfer stories? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused reporting and thoughtful analysis of transfers and recruitment, breaking down targets, fees and squad impact in clear detail.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

If O’Neill’s side can somehow get a deal over the line this month, it would be a statement given IIlic’s proven track record in front of goal, even if he’s admittedly struggled this campaign.

The 6 ft 2 powerhouse centre-forward, called “fantastic” by his manager Stefan Baumgart, has managed six assists in 15 Bundesliga outings this season.

In the German top flight, that is no easy feat either.

Celtic looking at signing £8.6m star who could finally replace McGregor

Celtic are on the hunt to sign a new midfielder in the winter transfer window.

ByMatt Dawson