Celtic's 2025/26 Summer transfer window: needed and wanted!

While I agree I think this is how it pans out, I think Mcgregor is so versatile that a number 6 doesn't oust him, it just means he does something else.

 

Hatate can go, although i doubt any epl clubs are interested in him at this point.

I still have alot of faith in AJ so a bit disappointed that belief in him seems to have dwindled.

A new striker needed also, as Kyogo or his goals haven't been replaced.

A defensive mid is an absolute MUST. But i fear this is going to be our new "are we ever going to sign a * LB".

 

Maeda through the middle has 11 in 6. 8 in 5 from Kyogo left. Kyogo has 13 this season in a lot more minutes in that position.

We have more goals through the middle since he left, Idah has provided more per game as well. And that’s probably luck that as well but Maeda’s the man for the middle, and that allows Jota in his best position on the left.

Kuhn will be away, so we need more up there, I’d want a player along the same lines as Maeda’s adaptability, that can play Right Wing or the middle. And I think that’s still Kvistgardeen.

But that’s 3 windows him being labelled main target and failed to get him. If it’s not done very quickly into the window, then it needs to be another option we have highlighted. If we don’t have another guy in mind, then that’s incompetent.


DM like we’re saying won’t happen, it’s a rarity a player even plays the pure DM these days. And McGregor is the main man for us, in that deeper role, and won’t be replaced. In my mind categorically don’t think we could if we tried either. So if we find that DM, it’s one happy to be on the bench knowing they won’t play a lot. And that player won’t be all that good

 

I don't understand people wanting the likes of Nawrocki to stay or wanting Kyogo back..

We should be looking to improve, personally I'd be looking to try and move on

Nawrocki, Lagerbielke and maybe even Scales. The centre half positions need freshening up. 2 of the 3 haven't worked out and I'd be wanting 2 with a bit more pace and power added. If we got that, I'd be more comfortable with Scales as a 5th option..

Tierney back in will help also..

The midfield for me is key. We need a couple in there, no question. Said before but I'd look to move on Bernardo. McCowan down to 6th choice or something ideally..

Competition for Jota on the left and Competition for Kuhn, if he stays. Yang there but no always first port of call..

Another front man. I don't think we'll be able to punt Idah......but we will at some point in the near future..

 

I think Kühn will be sold tbh, which will make a right winger a priority.

 

Aye, probably right...and agreed..

I think we'll be actively wanting that as well as his side, to maximise his value.....just incase he has more periods where he's off it..

 

Good chance Hatate, Kuhn and Taylor leave. We would need another right winger, and two dominant midfielders.

We were outgunned in midfield in the Villa game and last three Hun games.

 

Sadly I can’t see us getting everything done we could be doing with this summer, there is a lot to do.

Outs - I see Kuhn and Hatate moving on, which will likely bring in good money. It sounds like Frimpong will head to the EPL so we will get our sell on there. Taylor will be away and a decision to make on Schlupp.

We then have the Summer 2023 window clear out to do including -

- Lagerbielke
- Palma
- Nawrocki
- Kwon
- Tilio

Which will hopefully bring in about £8-10m.

There’s Welsh, Kenny and Montgomery who could all be let go to pastures new.

If the above happens which is a fair number of players to shift. The above is why I can’t see us moving on the likes of a Scales as there is already so many others to go.

Ins listed in order of priority

Tierney being signed up is a good one to start us off. We will need a backup left back could be Schlupp which would be useful as he could also be a central midfield option. That would sort out our left back situation.

Central midfield if Hatate goes we are down to 4 first team centre midfielders for 3 positions, one is a quality but aging captain in McGregor and another is McCowan who is largely fine against most domestic opposition but has struggled to step up against better opposition or not been trusted with minutes.

I think we need two in here one creative player to replace Hatate and another physical, energetic, defensively aware player. Two picks I think we could easily afford would be Benjamin Nygren of Nordsjaelland and a Mamadou Sangare of Rapid Vienna.

Forward line

If Kuhn goes then we need a starting right winger or bring a left winger and play Jota there. I like the look of Orjasaeter we were linked with in January but he largely plays of the left, Nygren mention for attacking midfield can also play off the right wing which is another reason to sign him for his versatility. Kvistgaarden can play across the front line who we have been linked with before so again could be interesting. A player tearing up the Eredivisie for Go Ahead Eagles is Oliver Antman and is a Finish international. He would replace Kuhn’s explosive pace and ability to pick out his man.

We need another centre forward option too, Kvistgaarden will be linked again I liked the look of Romulo Cardoso who was suggested in the chat but I think there could be an opportunity to sign a player with massive potential from Viktoria Plzen called Rafiu Durosumni who optimises a Brendan Rodgers centre forward and was on his way to Eintracht Frankfurt for €10m before a knee issue was picked up and has kept him out for a year. He is back now and playing great again whilst entering the last year of his deal so you would think that price may have dropped a bit as they will have to sell this summer.

Centre back - a position we need a clear out from ideally we need a starter for the left and a right sided back up but I can’t see us signing both. I like Harry Darling from Swansea, as he is an excellent distributor of the ball from the back but isn’t the biggest centre back so may not meet our physical requirements but is available free this summer. A good shout would be Paris FC’s Mamadou Mbow, he’s tall,strong, quick and comfortable on the ball. Wouldn’t cost too much especially if Paris FC aren’t promoted to Ligue 1.

So for me including if we have Tierney and keep Schlupp we would still need 5 more which I can’t see us pulling off in one window.

You would be talking about us dealing with 6 transfers in, and about 10 going out as things stand.

 

There's more chance of me going to a barbers and joining the tall person's club than that happening

 

A double pivot with some me playing as a 10 is probably best option but likelihood is Engles would he the one beside him with us signing a 10. Don't see Engels ever being a 10

Worked well in Europe, particularly Atalanta and Bayern although if that's the plan I think we need Engles to bulk up a bit.

Strongly believe we should go with that shape at Ibrox next month as our current set up has been over run in midfield the last 3 games. The only game it wasn't is when Rodgers changed to a double pivot after the 1st 10 mins in the 1st game v them this season.

 

I don’t disagree it’s unlikely and I said that at the outset of my post but it’s the scenario we likely find ourselves in given some of our more recent transfer windows.

We did move on that sort of number of players last summer and we actually have more of the ones mentioned out on loan doing ok this year than we did at that point last year.

The thing for me on the above, I don’t see any of that being extreme we clearly have a squad just now that is a few players light and that’s before we lose anyone. We have sold senior players in 4 of our last 5 transfer windows.

So I don’t think it is unreasonable to say a couple of first team players could go this summer, especially when you consider the length of time guys like Hatate, Maeda, CCV and Johnston have been here.

It does seem like we are trying to get some business done early as names start to pop up but getting deals done has been our problem of late. I actually think we do not a bad job at identifying targets but it’s that getting them over the line we struggle with.

Let’s see but as previously said there is a lot for the club to do this summer if we are to improve the team for next season.

 

It's odd because I feel with the way our squad constantly seems to rotate with sales, there is always one position that needs immediate attention, but then a player gets sold and it redirects urgency to that loss instead.

Weirdly I do think next season is a big ask for the club as the squad is likely needing a sizeable overhaul.

CB needs attention to help cover questions over CCV fitness, LB needs sorting so we again cover KT fitness concerns, Perhaps another 3rd Choice keeper in prep for Schmeichel leaving, CM needs bolstering as we surely going to see someone (Hatate sold in that position).

LW and RW could do with supplementation to help keep Maeda as the ST and then offer guys like Jota and Kuhn rotation and competition.

Effectively to really shore up squad depth and have solid options off the bench and overall strong competition for places we could potentially need 6 new signings in.

 

Brendan seemingly saying Maeda will be staying as striker and we'll be more likely to be bringing in a left winger


He said: (Celtic TV), “I think he (Daizen Maeda) can be (the main striker). I think it’s one where if we were to move him back on to the side and take him out of the middle, with all due respect it’s probably easier for us to bring in a top winger than it would be a top striker. But he can clearly play the position and I am so happy that he can.”

 

CELTIC ran a fresh check on £5million winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha as they ramp up their summer transfer plans.

SunSport understands Hoops scouts watched Royal Antwerp’s 5-1 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday night.

Balikwisha, 23, has been a long-time target for Brendan Rodgers but injury ended the chance of a January move to Parkhead.

The wideman’s season has been ruined by a torn thigh muscle, but he is back to full fitness.

Balikwisha claimed an assist for his side’s goal, but they were thumped after having a man sent off.

The Belgium Under-21 cap only has a year left on his deal and Antwerp are ready to sell him at the end of the season.

The speedy winger can play on both flanks and has been tipped as a future senior Belgian internationalist.

Celtic were interested last summer and again in January, but Balikwisha didn’t want to quit his club when injured.

Speaking in February, he said: “Celtic’s interest was concrete, but I chose to stay.

“Leaving with an injury was not ideal. I’d rather take good care of myself so I could be ready for the play-offs with Antwerp.

“We’ll see in the summer transfer window.”

Celtic are keeping a close eye on the Belgian league as Rodgers looks to bolster his squad for another tilt at the Champions League.

USG duo Noah Sadiki and Franjo Ivanovic are two players who continue to attract the attention of Euro scouts.

They would both fit Celtic’s target profile — but would come with hefty price tags.

Sadiki, 20, has racked up 46 appearances in all competitions this season and broke into the DR Congo squad last year.

The defensive midfielder represented Belgium at youth level but opted to declare for the African nation and already has seven full caps.

Lyon tried to sign him on a loan-to-buy deal for £5m last summer and USG would want a lot more for him in the coming months.

USG hitman Ivanovic has also earned rave reviews after scoring 17 goals since his summer move from Rijeka.

Celtic could still sign a striker this summer, despite Daizen Maeda’s prolific form since moving into the central role.

But Brighton, USG’s partner club, are understood to be Ivanovic’s most likely destination.

Rodgers will look to strengthen in several areas for next season, with the arrival of Kieran Tierney on a free from Arsenal already confirmed.

Jeffrey Schlupp is likely to be offered a deal after impressing during his loan spell from Crystal Palace, with Greg Taylor ready for the exit.

Luis Palma and Gustaf Lagerbielke are set to be moved on after loan spells at Olympiacos and FC Twente finish.

Meanwhile, reports in Spain claim Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon beat Celtic in the race to land Georgian midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili.

The £5m Levante ace will join Sporting at the end of the season.

 

Really hope we go back in for that Norwegian winger.

 

If we're moving for Balikwisha again then Kvistgaarden is highly unlikely option.

No chance we spend the guts of 15m+ on two wingers, not while we have Jota and Kuhn still on the books, and i cant see Kuhn leaving this next window.

Regarding the CB situation i dont think Rodgers will view it as a situation that needs urgent attention. I'd love to see Scales "replaced" but Rodgers seems to have a great liking for him.

 

What we need for me;
Long term McGregor replacement (Lennon Miller all day for me)
A creative number 8
A top winger that can play both sides
And a centre forward that can play back to goal
Left back thats happy being second choice but also will start a lot of games (tough)

couple wants; back up right back
A centre half that can actually play out under a severe press.

 

That Noah Sadiki looks the complete defensive midfielder. Highly rated. Would be perfect for us in the No.6 slot, and give us some much needed steel and backbone in midfield.