Davie Hay: Paradise found as Celtic make all the right moves on signing front

The acquisition of Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Michael Duffy, with Beram Kayal, Filip Twardzik and Jo-Inge Berget moving out, means it is very much job done.

More importantly, though, they have stayed strong and retained Virgil van Dijk, at least for the second half of the season.

And, the icing on the cake is the news they've reached agreement with Kris Commons over a two-year contract to replace the one due to run out in a few months.

That's a terrific boost for everyone at the club and the supporters, and caps a great week for Celtic after their 2-0 win over Rangers in the League Cup semi-final.

I must admit, for a long time, I feared Kris was on his way, and it was actually a relief when the window closed and he was still at Celtic.

He has shown since returning to the starting eleven at Kilmarnock in the game before the mid-season break that Celtic are a different, more effective team with him in it.

And his clinching goal at Hampden on Sunday was a further reminder of the special quality he can bring to the team.

That could have helped sway negotiations his way and encouraged the club to give him the length of deal he wanted, mindful, as they would have been, what an adverse reaction there would have been had the impasse continued, or, worse still, Kris announced he had signed a pre-contract elsewhere.

When the feel-good factor is running so strong, you don't want to dilute it.

Some have suggested Kris looks as though he is now willing to graft a bit more. But, to be honest, I don't really see that.

When you are playing well and scoring important goals, you tend to be viewed through different eyes.

It is all about the sum of the parts, what you bring to the team, not what you are doing for yourself.

It does not need to be a case of Kris or Stefan Johansen - who provided the perfect cross for Leigh Griffiths to score the opener on Sunday - in the starting eleven.

It takes different qualities to make a team - if I could have scored goals like that, I would have been worth millions - and the challenge for Ronny is to find the system which can accommodate both men. With Kris moving to the right, he appears to have done this.

Now, with the arrival of Stuart from Tannadice, the competition for attacking midfield places will be even greater.

He has got to be considered a bargain for the price Celtic paid, given what he has already shown for United and given that he is only 22.

What really surprises me is that United were prepared to allow him to leave at this time.

In the case of Gary, because he had already signed a pre-contract agreement, the timing of his move was more understandable.

But United had just qualified for the League Cup final, and already knew they would be without the suspended Nadir Ciftci for that game against Celtic next month. So, I believe it is a big mistake to sell Stuart and Gary at this point.

They would have been as well sending the League Cup to Celtic Park along with them.

I know United claim the players said they wanted to go, and none of us know how hard they were pushing. But the club still had the final say, and they are not in any financial difficulties.

They got little for Gary, and Celtic did not pay silly money which United couldn't resist for Stuart.

It's not as if his value was going to seriously plummet between now and the summer window.

A good cup final showing against Celtic might even have enhanced it and attracted more buyers.

Both players are cup-tied, so can't boost Celtic's chances of winning this trophy or the Scottish Cup.

But their absence will seriously damage United's of lifting the League Cup, and, perhaps, of finishing as high as they could have in the Premiership, with the extra money attached to each position.

Young Michael looks like a signing for the future as he will have to find the pace of the game here after coming over from Derry City.

But Ronny has registered Gary and Stuart - along with John Guidetti - for the Europa League.

And, of course, the lads from Tannadice can also play in the remaining league matches.

They tick the boxes of being exciting, attacking players who can develop even further and increase their value.

The real benefit of getting them in now is that they well be well settled for the start of next season and, with the European qualifiers coming up so early, that is a real bonus.

Ronny has had long enough to assess what he has at his disposal, and will have identified the areas which need further strengthening.

There was no need for a marquee signing in this window, though that could change in the summer if they lose someone like Virgil for big money.

It's not the finished article by any means. But after two windows, Ronny is getting there with the squad he is building.

The proof of this will be seen over the next few months.

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