Reo Hatate has made clear his desire to move to a top five European league, preferably one that competes in the Europa League or Champions League, signaling his intent to seek new challenges after securing eight trophies with Celtic. The 28-year-old midfielder has informed the club of his ambitions, suggesting a potential departure in the near future.
Meanwhile, following Sweden’s exit from the World Cup, forward Nygren remained noncommittal when questioned about his future at Celtic, responding simply with “we’ll see.” The 21-goal scorer acknowledged his aspirations to perform at the highest level but offered no specific timeframe regarding his decision.
Celtic are actively pursuing reinforcements ahead of the new season, with goalkeeper Tjark Ernst reportedly valued at around €5 million. Additionally, the club is linked with Torino’s promising talent Gvidas Gineitis, whom they could acquire for over £9 million. In a competitive move, Celtic are also engaged in an open race with rivals Rangers to secure the signature of Elijah Just from Motherwell, whose impressive World Cup performances for New Zealand have elevated his market value.
Youth Signings and Transfer Negotiations
In a bid to bolster their squad depth, Celtic recently outpaced Arsenal and other contenders to sign 16-year-old Dundee goalkeeper Warren Lyall on his first professional contract. Compensation is expected to be paid to Dundee for the transfer. Lyall will initially join Celtic’s B team, alongside Shea McGarry, who has also been recruited from Cliftonville.
On the goalkeeper front, Celtic are in advanced discussions with Las Palmas regarding Dinko Horkaš, aiming to find a replacement for Kasper Schmeichel. Reports indicate that Celtic are leading the race for Horkaš with a bid close to €4 million, though Las Palmas have valued the player at €10 million and included a €30 million release clause.
Further talks are ongoing with Qarabag for a Colombian player, highlighting Celtic’s strategic approach to strengthening multiple areas of the squad before the transfer window closes.
Adding to the transfer speculation, the potential availability of Motherwell’s Elijah Just at a reduced fee has drawn interest from both Celtic and Rangers. Just’s performances at the World Cup have made him one of the most sought-after young talents, intensifying the competition between the Scottish clubs.
As the summer transfer window progresses, Celtic’s activity in the market reflects their ambition to maintain competitiveness domestically and in European competitions while managing the potential departures of key players.