THE transfer window has been open for over a week, and nothing much continues to happen.

I am sure that will have disappointed many Celtic fans who have looked closely at their club this season and come to the conclusion they really need to add more quality.

But I have got to agree with Ronny Deila that the priority in this window is to hold onto what you already have.

And, as we were all reminded in the win over Kilmarnock on Monday, Kris Commons is one man they really can't afford to let go.

He was the best player on the Rugby Park pitch - by a mile.

And, if I was still the Celtic manager, I would make it my No.1 aim to find the 'common' ground to get his name on a new contract.

Unfortunately, I am not sure it is entirely down to the manager. But Ronny is the man who will have to deal with the loss to his team if Kris decides to go elsewhere.

My gut feeling is that this is what will happen because things appear to be too far down the road for him to stay.

For whatever reason, Ronny has not chosen to start Kris in too many games.

But, at Kilmarnock, it was clear for all to see what he can bring to the team.

I think he could be just the man to bring the best out of John Guidetti again because Kris can provide the kind of chances such a striker needs.

John is another player whose future remains in doubt as Celtic continue to try to reach an agreement on a permanent contract.

With Virgil Van Dijk also sure to attract increasing interest, it is going to be a tense final few weeks of the window for Ronny.

He knows how tough the second half of the season is going to be, with very important cup ties and the battle to retain the title.

He will not want to have to go into any of these matches with one or more of his key players removed from his team.

I also believe that who comes into the club in this window will be dictated by who goes out.

The reassuring thing for Hoops fans is that their club does not need to sell.

Careful management of their finances means they are on a strong footing.

But, that does not mean every player can be retained. Sometimes an offer is simply too good, or a player decides he wants to go and forces the issue.

The point is, though, the likes of Virgil will be worth every bit as much come the summer as he is now.

And I'd hope there are enough big games coming up in the next four months - including the double-header with Inter Milan - to convince him he does not want to move at this time.

Ronny and Peter Lawwell are singing from the same hymn sheet when they say they want the club to come out of the window stronger than they went in.

The best basis for this is to hold what you already have, then, if the right opportunity presents itself, supplement this.

As ever, there is speculation every day about which players Celtic are now targeting, and I have no doubt they have a list of possibles.

There are a number operating in Scotland who have been linked, including the Dundee United lads, Stuart Armstrong, Nadir Ciftci and Gary Mackay-Steven.

There is a case for arguing it is better to look at lads already playing here because you eliminate the gamble associated with asking someone to settle into a new country, culture and climate.

But, for a long time, it has been difficult for Celtic to sign players from Scottish clubs because they can't compete with the wages being offered down south.

It is this more than the transfer fees which sees so many promising players go to clubs in England rather than gravitate to Parkhead, as was the case when I was a player.

Most recently, Stevie May and Andrew Robertson followed the road south when many Celtic fans wanted to see them join their club.

It can be so frustrating to switch on your TV and see them doing so well.

But, it is not a level playing field, and Celtic can't leave themselves open to serious financial problems by getting involved in a wages war.

Having said all of that, the Scottish market is one which Celtic can't simply ignore.

For too long, the preference for our clubs - not just Celtic - was to bring in someone from abroad because the perception was they must be better than what we have in this country.

Scotland is still producing good players, and clubs here are not really in a position to turn down decent offers for them.

The trick is to spot them before clubs down south, and convince them the opportunity to win trophies and play in Europe makes moving to Parkhead their best option.

What's every bit as important to them should be that, as several have already shown, joining Celtic can also be the gateway to a big-money transfer to the top level in England.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here