Ronny Deila expects late transfer activity at Celtic this summer

Celtic boss Ronny Deila concedes he does not expect to complete his transfer dealings before the Champions League qualifiers.

The Hoops will begin their season in mid-July with the first of three potential qualifying rounds to reach the group stages of Europe's biggest club competition.

Deila will be better prepared for the challenge than he was a year ago, when he had just taken the job at Celtic Park.

With his team still in a transitional phase, Celtic lost to Legia Warsaw and, after a fortunate reprieve, Slovenian champions Maribor.

Deila also strengthened his squad in January by bringing in Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong from Dundee United, and has been firm in his stance that keeping key players for the push to make the lucrative group stages is more important than securing transfer income.

The Norwegian believes Celtic are likely to bring in new players in the last week of the transfer window, which comes after the final round of qualifiers.

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"That's what we want but I don't think it's going to happen," said Delia ahead of champions Celtic's final Scottish Premiership clash of the season, against Inverness on Sunday.

"There is a break after the last round of Champions League qualification. You have six days (until the end of the transfer window) and if we are in the Champions League then you can possibly do something.

"It's going on all the time and we want to get good players as quickly as possible, but everyone is saying the same thing, so it's a hard job.

"I'm hoping but I never expect things in football. It's a hard business and it's getting harder and harder, these transfer windows.

"It takes your energy as well but it's an important thing. I hope we have strengthened the team in June but I never expect anything."

Watch Celtic take on Inverness on Sunday with coverage starting on Sky Sports 3 at Midday.