Paul Lambert says Celtic are nowhere near good enough without further recruitment, but he warns against "panic".

He notes that striker Camilo Duran is the club’s only summer arrival, and midfielder Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain has signed a new contract after a short‑term deal last season. Forward Kelechi Iheanacho left for Bursaspor as a free agent and former left‑back loanee Marcelo Saracchi said he had "done everything within our power" to return, but neither will feature in Glasgow this year. Centre‑half Maik Nawrocki was sold to Lens, further weakening the squad.

Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound that "the squad’s not strong enough". He added that Celtic "won’t get away with that again" and that the club must spend around £8‑10m on recruitment infrastructure alone. Chief executive Michael Nicholson said the club is "difficult" because it competes with Premier League and Championship clubs for players.

Lambert, who captained Celtic under Martin O’Neill, stresses that Celtic is a winning club, not a development one. "You need ready‑made players to compete in the Champions League," he said. "If you don’t spend, you stand still."