Martin O'Neill Says He Didn't Know Sonny Inzalaco and Tiemoue Bakayoko Were Training at Celtic

O'Neill caught cold over Lennoxtown trialists

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has moved to play down two training stints at the club's Lennoxtown base, admitting he did not know either player had been working with the Scottish champions.

The first concerns Perth RedStar goalkeeper Sonny Inzalaco, a 19-year-old Australia youth international. According to the Glasgow Times, O'Neill said he did not know the teenager had been training with the club.

Inzalaco's time at Lennoxtown has attracted wider attention, with the Scottish Sun reporting that Wrexham are interested in the goalkeeper. The report adds that the Celtic trialist had also reportedly had a trial with Blackburn Rovers in the summer.

Bakayoko also training — but no January business

The second involves Tiemoue Bakayoko, the 32-year-old former France midfielder who has been without a club since leaving PAOK in July 2025. O'Neill insisted he did not know the midfielder had been training with the Scottish champions.

Despite the presence of trialists at the club, O'Neill was clear that Celtic will not be making any signings before January.

What it means

The comments underline a period of uncertainty around recruitment at Celtic Park, with the manager distancing himself from players who have been working at the training ground while simultaneously ruling out any incoming business before the turn of the year.