Despite missing out on targets in several important positions, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic did not have a perfect January transfer window.
The manager reportedly desired a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a center-forward, according to Football Insider, but the Hoops were able to sign Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Wien, an Austrian team, on a permanent basis.

Adam Idah was the only other first-team signing made before the transfer window closed. He came from English Championship side Norwich City on loan with no buyout option.

On deadline day, The Daily Record revealed that the Bhoys were also considering signing a second central midfield player to bolster the group following the departure of David Turnbull to Cardiff City and the injury sustained by Reo Hatate while playing for Japan.

However, Rodgers might have been dissatisfied with Celtic’s efforts since they closed the transfer window without acquiring a new goalkeeper, left defender, or central midfield player.

Next season, however, the Northern Irish tactician might find a surprising in-house replacement for Turnbull by promoting MacKenzie Carse to the first squad following his loan stint at Queen’s Park.

Numbers from David Turnbull’s Celtic career

The Scotland international, who has an incredible record of 16 goals and 7 assists in 41 appearances, signed a permanent contract with Motherwell in the summer of 2020.

Over his three years in Glasgow, he went on to play 134 games for the Hoops in all competitions, indicating that the club had a respectable return on investment from the youthful talent.

With 31 goals and 23 assists, Turnbull shown his ability to score and create goals from midfield. On average, he would score or provide an assist every 2.48 games.

He may have had his greatest season wearing a Celtic jersey in the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership season, when he made an impression on Neil Lennon as the former Bhoys manager’s number ten.

The 24-year-old magician provided the team with consistent excellence as a creator and scorer from a midfield position, as the table above illustrates.

Turnbull (2.7) had the most crucial passes per game of any Celtic player that season. His passing was so brilliant for the Scottish giants that he actually created 0.8 more opportunities per match than any of his colleagues.

It was his best and most fruitful season at the team because he recorded the most goals and assists (15 total) of any campaign he had ever managed for the Hoops.

With seven goals in 16 Premiership games this season, Turnbull provided a goal threat from the middle of the park that only Matt O’Riley (ten) and Kyogo Furuhashi (nine) had surpassed for the Celtic team.

In spite of his goal-scoring prowess, the former Motherwell player started nine league games in the first half of the season with no assists.

On the day of the deadline, the Hoops decided they were ready to cash in on him, and for an alleged £2 million, they sold the gifted wiz to Cardiff of Wales.

This might have been because Rodgers, who preferred players like Paulo Bernardo, Callum McGregor, and O’Riley, did not give him many midfield starts.

David Turnbull’s battles for the Championship

The right-footed ace has had a difficult time adjusting to life in the Championship in England with the Bluebirds since moving to Wales.

Turnbull, an offensive midfielder for his new team, has made five appearances in the second division, including two starts, and has not yet contributed a goal or an assist.

The Scotland international has only attempted one shot in those five games, and it was off target. He has also not produced a single “big chance” for his teammates in the last part of the game.

He still has plenty of time to become successful in Wales at the age of 24, and perhaps this season’s major shift is the cause of his current difficulties.

On deadline day, Rodgers made the right decision, it seems given his current form, to send him out of Parkhead permanently.

The teenage Celtic player who might succeed David Turnbull

Despite rumors to the contrary, Celtic was unable to sign the central midfield player they were supposedly targeting during the January transfer window.

That does not imply, though, that Rodgers does not already have a man at the team who has the ability to become Turnbull’s ideal replacement.

Carse, a youthful player who spent the second half of this season on loan at Queen’s Park, has the potential to advance to the first team and replace the Scottish master for the 2024–2025 season.

The 19-year-old showed off his attacking ability for Celtic’s B squad in the first half of the current season, scoring seven goals in 18 Lowland League games and one goal in six UEFA Youth League appearances.

Prior to his short departure, he captained the B team or Youth League side fifteen times, demonstrating his leadership abilities for the club’s academy. This indicates that he possesses a composed mind and the mental capacity to motivate those around him.

Carse recently demonstrated his ability as an offensive threat at the first team level for Queen’s Park with a goal off the bench against Dunfermline, as you can see in the table above.

This indicates that in four substitute appearances in the Scottish Championship, the juvenile wizard has already accomplished more at the top end of the game than Turnbull has in five appearances for Cardiff in the English Championship.

From now until the conclusion of the season, Carse—who Queen’s Park manager Callum Davidson called a “high potential” prospect—must secure a berth as a consistent starter for the second division team.

Next season, the 19-year-old jewel might be the ideal successor for Turnbull if he can maintain his record as a consistent goal scorer for Celtic B at the senior level, as his goal-scoring impact for the Championship suggests he can.

Carse might replace the goals they have lost due to the sale of the now-Cardiff ace, thus Rodgers wouldn’t even need to look to buy another midfield player.

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