Chris Sutton identifies Celtic’s transfer mistake from last summer.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has highlighted what he believes was a major transfer mistake by Celtic last summer, while also describing the club’s continued involvement in the Scottish Premiership title race as “ridiculous”.

Sutton had previously dismissed Celtic’s hopes of retaining the league crown during various stages of the 2025/26 campaign, with Martin O’Neill and his squad spending large periods of the season trailing their rivals in the standings.

However, despite the difficulties they have faced throughout the season, Celtic remain firmly in contention with only three league matches left to play. Sutton admitted he is surprised the title challenge is still alive, considering the inconsistency that has plagued the side for much of the campaign.

Speaking about the situation, Sutton explained that from Celtic’s perspective it is somewhat astonishing they still have an opportunity to win the league. He pointed out that despite numerous setbacks and underwhelming performances, the Hoops have somehow managed to remain within touching distance of the top.

At the same time, the pundit stressed there is virtually no margin for error left if Celtic are to complete the turnaround and secure another league title. According to Sutton, the current squad has looked disjointed and unreliable on several occasions this season, leaving O’Neill constantly trying to patch together solutions.

Sutton suggested the manager has spent much of the campaign trying to repair problems within the squad rather than building a settled and dominant side capable of cruising through the division.

The former forward then turned his attention to Celtic’s attacking issues, which he believes could have been avoided had the club acted differently in the transfer market during the summer window.

Sutton specifically highlighted Lawrence Shankland after the striker’s impressive performance against Rangers at Tynecastle. He praised the way the Hearts captain took his goal and insisted it was further proof Celtic missed a huge opportunity by failing to sign him.

For months, discussions have surrounded the idea that Shankland should have joined Rangers last year, but Sutton believes that conversation completely misses the point. In his view, it was Celtic who should have moved aggressively to bring the striker to Parkhead.

Sutton argued that concerns over Shankland’s reported support for Rangers should never have mattered when assessing his quality and suitability for Celtic. He believes the Hoops were in desperate need of a dependable goalscorer last summer, and one of the most effective forwards in Scottish football was available right on their doorstep.

The pundit suggested Celtic should have done everything possible to secure the striker’s signature, especially given the lack of proven finishing options currently available within the squad.

Sutton made it clear he feels Shankland could have transformed Celtic’s season had the club completed a deal. He argued the Scotland international’s ability in front of goal would have provided the cutting edge Celtic have frequently lacked during important moments this term.

According to Sutton, the Hoops’ struggles in attack have been one of the defining stories of their campaign. Injuries, inconsistent form, and a lack of reliable finishing have all contributed to Celtic dropping valuable points throughout the season.

He believes adding a proven Premiership striker such as Shankland would have solved many of those issues and potentially prevented the title race from becoming so close in the first place.

Sutton even went as far as claiming that if Shankland had been leading the line for Celtic this season, there may not have been a title battle at all. In his opinion, the striker’s goals could have provided enough consistency to keep the Glasgow giants comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.

Instead, Celtic now face a tense end to the campaign with very little room for mistakes as they continue to chase down the league leaders in the closing weeks of the season.

While Sutton acknowledged that Celtic still have a fighting chance, he also made it clear he believes the club’s recruitment decisions last summer have contributed heavily to the difficult position they currently find themselves in.

The former striker’s comments are likely to spark further debate among supporters regarding the club’s transfer strategy, particularly surrounding the decision not to pursue Shankland when he was available.

With the title race still alive heading into the final three games, attention will remain fixed on whether O’Neill’s side can complete an unlikely comeback — or whether missed opportunities in the transfer market will ultimately come back to haunt them.