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

Just guessing big man that’s all


Nothing has been posted in the WhatsApp chat for days


Boy who gets the info has gone to Dubai on business


And the other fella has gone camping

 

No excuse not to make something up.

 

One name keeps popping up though

 

Ross Doohan announced @Notorious ITK

 

Maybe another one soon

 

Venegoor of hesselink son just scored against the English u19 side

Sign him up!

6'3" striker, 32 goals in 51 games at u18 for Twente
12 goals in 19 games for the u19

Get it done Mr Celtic

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Son of Venegoor of Hesselink

 

His song would work with Son

Go get him

 

sounds superb.

 

I'm in, fecking loved the big fella when he was here.

 

No worries mate. Hopefully we start getting some deals done soon.

 

One of the few players we've signed that I got generally excited about before he came. Like excited because I knew he was good, not just a prospect sort of intrigued exciting.

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Big man in Dubai has been MIA for days now


And Wee Derek is a mad drunk who’s normally burst on the Bucky on a Friday

 

I now just take an occasional wee peek on this thread to see how things are progressing re transfers as 9 times out of ten its just guesswork or wishful thinking. I now prefer to wait till we see whoever we sign standing with the obligatory Celtic scarf above his head standing in Celtic Park

 

So far so good but I think what we've done is address the squad depth.

We still need 1 or 2 marquee signings like a top drawer CB and another winger. Hopefully those are in the works or is it a case of we won't have any and just more squad depth?

Only see a marquee signing if a notable player was to leave?

 

Progress has been pleasing so far I'd say. One or 2 in early to get used to the club is pretty decent.

 

We have 7 CB's at the club currently. I've no doubt we'll get one in that we'd consider a first choice CB, but it'll likely be a position we won't properly look at until late July/August. Inamura has been linked but he will probably be brought in as 4th choice until we shift a few on. Left back is another I don't think we'll see proper links to until later in July, once we know what's happening with Taylor.

We'll defo get another winger in shortly, likely Balikwisha who I'd be happy with, albeit I'd have preferred Orjasaeter.

Heavily linked to a few squad fillers in Yamada and Inamura, who might not be the most inspiring signings, but neither are bad and would add something different, and it also shows we're back scouting the Japanese market. Only real underwhelming link is Irving and even then, I don't think we're properly after him.

We're already stronger than last season. Tierney, Osmund and Nygren gives us a lot of additional options. and by all accounts we're quite far down with the deal for Inamura. Considering it's still June, it's been an excellent start to the window.

The key now is to not rest on our Laurels. I don't mind waiting until August to sign a few more players, but at least 75% of our Business should be done before August, sets us up nicely for the qualifiers and the Season in general.

 

Got a feeling that with Tierney coming home, we are going back to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with traditional overlapping fullbacks and an attacking midfielder, that's where I think Nygren will fit in. Given we know that Rodgers likes to have a smaller squad size, usually around 23-25 players, topped up with promising youth and players like Maeda/Nygren/Tierney who are flexible in terms of the positions they can play. Maeda can play Striker and winger, but will definitely be playing as a striker from now on. Nygren can play as an 8, a 10, a winger and a striker but will likely see him play as a 10 and a RW depending on personnel. Tierney is a LB but can play as a CB.

The squad size at the minute, with everyone coming back from loans and players leaving at the end of their contracts/loans is sitting at around 31, that's not including the players who have come through youth squad but does include Osmand and Nygren, even though they haven't been officially announced by the club. This is where I currently see us.

Goalkeepers

Kasper Schmeichel- Likely his final season and will start as No. 1.
Viljami Sinisalo- Back-up to Schmeichel but we all know he's our long term No. 1.
Ross Doohan- Takes on the Bain role as back up for the two guys above.

Right Backs

Alistair Johnston- No. 1 right back. Don't think he's going anywhere this season.
Anthony Ralston- The perfect back-up to AJ and deputises very well when asked to. Not against him getting more games.

Left Backs

Kieran Tierney- Undeniable No.1 left back moving forward. Game time needs to be managed.
Adam Montgomery- Won't be back up to KT. Will likely be sold or loaned out again.

Centre Backs

CCV- Our No.1 RCB. Form dropped this season but our best centre back by far. Possibly moves on but I think he stays.
Austin Trusty- Cost a lot of money and will want to be playing games. I think he could leave this summer.
Maik Nawrocki- I like him and I think he's perfect to be back up to CCV. I just don't think Rodgers rates him and will go.
Liam Scales- Controversial one but I'd keep as a back up to a No. 1 LCB. Think he stays either way as Rodgers likes him.
Gustaf Lagerbielke- Moves on permanently this summer and will have plenty of suitors. Easy sale of £3m I think.
Stephen Welsh- Moves on permanently this summer and will have plenty of suitors. Another easy sale of £1.5m I think.

Defensive Midfield/Number 6 position

Callum McGregor- Think a double pivot helps him. Need to manage his game time though.
Arne Engels- Definitely his best position. Impressed against Bayern in that position in both games. Stays this summer.
Reo Hatate- Definitely our most creative player but I think he goes in the summer. Deal worth around £12m for me.
Paulo Bernardo- Not a fan and never have been. Would move him on and there is rumoured interest. Maybe get £3m.
Kwon- Aye, never happening here. Should get a permanent move, though. Will be lucky to get £500k for him.
Holm- Liked what I saw but clear issues in training and off the ball work. Likely to not make it here. Struggling on loan.

Attacking Midfielder/Number 10 position

Benjamin Nygren- Think that's where he will play. Looks so creative in that final third and will pick out Maeda for fun.
Luke McCowan- Could probably play as a 6 as well but feel he will stay and play back up to Nygren.

Right Wingers

Nicholas Kuhn- Worst kept secret in Scotland right now that he's going. Will probably get £17m-£20m. Good deal.
James Forrest- Happy to see him play back up and Nygren can also play back up on this side when Jamesy is managed.
Yang- Time to move him on. I was all for a loan but think we could sell him for some profit. £3m should be achievable.
Marco Tilio- Never happening here. Will get a move back to Australia or maybe Asia. Definitely could get £1m for him.

Left Wingers

Jota-Will likely be first choice when he's back and fully fit but 2025 is pretty much written off, now.
Luis Palma- Again, never happening here. Will need to be moved on. Will lose money on his sale but should still see £2m.

Strikers

Daizen Maeda- Our first choice striker moving into the new season. Stays this summer. Hopefully signs a new deal.
Adam Idah- Back up but needs to show a wee bit more when he is called upon.
Callum Osmand- Definitely bringing him in to be part of our squad and will drive Idah/Maeda to be better.
Johnny Kenny- Has loan options for the summer and he will move on.

Looking at the above, it's clear we are doing well in some areas and really poorly in others. Goalkeeping position, right back position and striker position is sorted for me. We are stacked far too much in certain places with dross, to be honest. 6 centre backs at the club, not including Dane Murray and would be happy to move on 4 of them. 3 of them will definitely move on and wouldn't surprise me to see all 4 go. Stacked with wingers who aren't good enough, too. Yang, Tilio, Palma. Forrest is 33 and can't be relied upon fully, Kuhn is definitely going and Jota is out for the remainder of 2025.

Good business done so far by the club but it's clear we need to bring in a back up left back as soon as possible, who can properly deputise for KT and find a permanent place for Montgomery. We need to get a couple of centre halves in, a first choice LCB and a back up to CCV. We need to move on Lagerbielke, Welsh and Nawrocki(possibly Trusty if he's not our first choice moving forward). Get into midfield and we need a proper defensive minded player in, and move on Kwon and Holm permanently. Would move on Bernardo too and get a proper box to box midfielder in. I'd like to see us add another attacking midfielder too, or a flexible player who can play across the front 3 positions. I'm sure someone like Balikwisha can play as a 10 but mostly plays on the Left Wing. He's exactly who you want. Bringing him in and moving on Palma, meaning we have Maeda/Forrest to cover at left wing until Jota comes back and competes with Balikwisha. On the right wing, we just need to get rid of Yang and Tilio. Forrest is good back up again, Nygren can deputise there and we need a replacement for Kuhn when he moves on, which is where I would like to see us strengthen.

4 centre backs out, 2 in.
1 left back out, 1 in.
3 midfielders out, 2 in.
1 left winger out, 1 in.
3 right wingers out, 2 in.
1 striker out

Would drop our squad size to 26, but 2/3 players in there who can play multiple positions.