Oxlade-Chamberlain's future & Celtic manager search

[BBC]

BBC Sport Scotland reporter Kheredine Idessane has been answering some of your questions on Celtic.

Nathan asked: Based on his performances so far, would you offer Oxlade-Chamberlain a longer-term contract at the end of the season?

Kheredine answered: It's a little too early to tell, Nathan, but if you're pushing me for an answer right now, I'd say: yes but on one condition.

That condition being that you're not driving a coach and horses through the Parkhead wage structure to accommodate him.

He has proven, albeit fleetingly, he can still be a matchwinner. His goal against St Mirren at the weekend and the very late one against Livingston on his debut were both pivotal. The difference between six points and two.

If you translate that to the current standings, but for the former Arsenal man's timely interventions, Celtic could easily be seven points adrift of Hearts and effectively out of the title race as opposed to within three and slap bang in contention.

The other interesting thing about Oxlade-Chamberlain is his potential to improve. The form he's showing now is after a lengthy spell without playing matches and simply training with Arsenal. With the second half of this season under his belt and a full pre-season, how much more effective might he be in a hooped jersey?

He may also offer the possibility of being played further up the park. His two goals were both examples of clinical finishing. Pure, true strikes of the football.

He's always had a knack for scoring throughout his career. Given the paucity of Celtic's options up front, could he be employed as a 'false nine' between now and the end of the season, to see if the chances being passed up by others might be taken by a Champions League winner?

Food for thought, potentially, for manager Martin O'Neill as he seeks to find a way to boost his team's unimpressive recent goal return.

Stephen asked: Should Celtic be or are Celtic actively looking for a new manager?

Kheredine answered: Yes and yes, Stephen. They should be because O'Neill has said he's only holding the fort until the summer and isn't sure he'd have the energy or desire still to be in charge beyond that.

If, however, he steers the side to an unlikely-looking league and cup double - thereby making it to the Champions League play-offs - who's to say he couldn't be persuaded to have a crack at making European football's top table one last time?

Realistically, however, all the indications are Celtic will be under new stewardship for the start of next season. Which means the due diligence will already have started on the succession planning.

For good reason, too: the rebuilding job Celtic face in the summer is massive. A new manager and coaching staff; a new chairman (assuming Brian Wilson's interim stint isn't extended); and almost an entirely new squad. The incoming boss will need to be recruited sharpish given the turnover in players he'll be expected to oversee.

You have to assume stalwarts like Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will finally be allowed to move on this summer.

Celtic can't really afford to lose his goals but if an offer significantly over £10m came in for Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren, would Celtic be able to resist making a quick ten-fold profit? Similarly, what if Nottingham Forest (or another suitor) came back with their £25m bid for Arne Engels?

Then you have the loan players, only some of whom have made any meaningful contribution, who're likely to return to their parent clubs: Marcelo Saracchi, Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara, Benjamin Arthur, Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu.

Don't forget to add in the flops Celtic will be trying to move on: Michel-Ange Balikwisha (remember him?), Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura.

Celtic have an option to extend striker Kelechi Iheanacho's stay by a year but has he done enough to warrant the triggering of that clause? Could he stay fit long enough? Oh, and the club could also do with a goalkeeper, given Kasper Schmeichel's imminent departure, to provide competition for Viljami Sinisalo.

We're talking a complete squad overhaul here with the only silver linings the anticipated return from long-term injury of Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

None of the work can be started in any meaningful way until Celtic appoint a new manager whose vision and principles will determine the comings and goings of one of the club's busiest summers since Ange Postecoglou's arrival five years ago.