The end of the season is upon us, with Celtic earning a hard-fought double to add to the treble and double that have gone before in this latest sequence of three-in-a-row.
A few days after retaining the Scottish Cup and fans are already looking towards next season with an air of positivity. The club has riches previously unknown in Scottish football, the new Champions League format to look forward to, and a manager in charge who has changed the opinions of a great many of those naysayers who didn't want him back.
The Scottish Cup triumph also signalled the end of at least one Celtic career in the now-retired Joe Hart. There are a few more hanging in the balance, with the futures of loanees Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah - both so pivotal to the cup win - still uncertain. We also have the question of Matt O'Riley's future to contend with, following offers in January from clubs willing to pay Celtic a record fee for the Danish international's signature.
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Given these potential departures and the fact that Brendan Rodgers wants to cut his first-team squad from 35 to 25, this pre-season could spell a summer of immense change at Celtic Park. The club's transfer activity has come under intense scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike, with many sharing the opinion that Celtic's transfer policy has to change.
Less is more when it comes to new recruits. The club has to stop spreading their budget across deals for numerous players and should instead spend more on fewer players who can immediately improve the starting XI.
With the heads of recruitment and scouting yet to be announced, it seems as though Celtic are moving the player trading model in a different direction, but what key positions should be bolstered as a priority this summer?
Goalkeeper
One position that the club will be forced to address is between the sticks. With Joe Hart retiring at the end of the season after a 20-year career, the pressure could be on the club to spend big on a new number one.
The Vasilis Barkas situation the club found itself in seems to have been an anomaly in a run of quality keepers that spans back to Artur Boruc.
With this in mind, the players linked and the fees reported so far have been encouraging as Celtic's search continues.
Centre-back
Cameron Carter-Vickers is Celtic's best defender by some distance, but he lost his partner, Carl Starfelt, last season after two years of building a solid defensive foundation on which Ange Postecoglou built his success.
Three replacements came in, but Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Nat Phillips all failed to cement their place in Brendan Rodgers' side. It was left to Liam Scales to step up, and the Irishman became the go-to left-sided centre-back in what turned out to be his breakout season.
Whilst Liam Scales has done his job admirably this season, Celtic need better if they have any aspirations to build on their most recent achievements.
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Striker
We all know how fantastic Kyogo Furuhashi has been since he arrived in Glasgow three years ago, but to get the best out of the Japanese forward, Celtic require some high quality backup.
Unfortunately, despite some bright moments in the hoops, it seems that Oh Hyeon-gyu does not have the quality Brendan Rodgers is looking for. Someone in the mould of Adam Idah could well be the prefect alternative.
Celtic needs someone who offers a different dynamic to the Celtic attack, and an approach for Adam Idah on a permanent deal this summer should be the first move that the club makes.
James McKenzie // @JamesWHMcKenzie
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