Callum McGregor: Celtic Captain and Future Manager
Callum McGregor’s future belongs to Celtic. Martin O’Neill is already looking beyond that.
The former Parkhead boss believes the 33-year-old captain is not just the heartbeat of the current side but a manager in waiting, tipping him as a future Celtic boss after the midfielder committed himself to the Scottish champions.
The uncertainty that had hovered over McGregor’s next move was addressed in the most direct way possible. He sat down with chief executive Michael Nicholson in the summer and made it clear he was happy to stay, even as speculation swirled about a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia. O’Neill, speaking about those talks, sees more than just loyalty. He sees leadership traits that could one day translate to the dugout.
For now, McGregor remains the on-field constant in a Celtic squad that continues to evolve around him, while the club’s recruitment team fight battles on several fronts.
Celtic dig in as market heats up
On the left side of defence, Celtic have taken a firm stance. An approach from Osasuna for Scotland international Kieran Tierney has been rejected, with the 29-year-old remaining a target the Scottish champions are not prepared to lose on the cheap.
Out wide, the picture is more complex. Frosinone have knocked back an opening offer of around £6m for Fares Ghedjemis. The 23-year-old Algeria winger, also linked with Rangers, is a player the Serie A club want to keep, yet talks between the sides are still active. Celtic are not out of that race, but they will have to move.
In midfield, the chase for Mika Baur has already taken a twist. One version of events has Celtic preparing an improved, structured package worth around £5m as the 22-year-old Paderborn player pushes for a move to Glasgow. Another, from Germany, is far less encouraging for the Scottish champions: a £4m bid turned down and head coach Ralf Kettemann telling NW Sport he expects Baur to stay put.
It is the modern transfer window in microcosm. Competing narratives, hard lines from selling clubs, and a buyer trying to strengthen without blinking first.
Celtic-linked winger Haissem Hassan is another case study. Real Oviedo have rejected an offer of approximately £6.2m from Lens for the 24-year-old, underlining how fierce the market has become for wide players in their prime years.
Rangers step back as Hull City move in
Across the city, Rangers have quietly slipped out of one race and remain firmly in another.
Hull City are set to beat both Rangers and Cardiff City to the signing of 20-year-old Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, with the Championship club emerging as front-runners after Rangers withdrew from the chase. What once looked like a three-way contest has tilted decisively towards Humberside.
Rangers have not parked their ambitions out wide, though. Talks have been held with Brighton & Hove Albion over Amario Cozier-Duberry. The 21-year-old winger is highly regarded at the Premier League club, who have already turned down a £5m offer from Anderlecht and are in no hurry to let him go. Rangers are in the conversation, but Brighton hold the cards.
The Ibrox club also watched Mikey Moore closely last season during his loan from Tottenham Hotspur. This time, Cologne are favourites to land the 18-year-old on another temporary deal, with discussions at an advanced stage amid interest from several clubs.
St Mirren hold firm, Notts County circle
Elsewhere in Scotland, St Mirren are trying to keep the noise at arm’s length. Despite speculation around 24-year-old midfielder Killian Phillips, the Paisley club insist they have received no contact from any suitors. For now, Phillips remains a Buddie, even as the rumour mill spins around him.
In England’s lower leagues, Scottish talent is attracting attention. Notts County have expressed interest in 25-year-old Northampton Town defensive midfielder Dean Campbell, with the Meadow Lane club among several in League One eyeing the Scot. It is the kind of move that can reshape a player’s career and a club’s midfield in a single stroke.
Brighton’s Scottish bet and a blow for St Johnstone
Brighton & Hove Albion, never shy about investing in youth, have agreed a fee to sign 17-year-old Scottish winger Mason Stephens from Manchester City. He is expected to sign a three-year contract, another young prospect added to a pathway that has already carried several talents from academy pitches to the Premier League stage.
For St Johnstone, the news is far less uplifting. Hopes of a sizeable sell-on windfall for Adama Sidibeh have taken a hit. The striker, who had been tipped for a £1.5m move amid interest from Championship clubs, has suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Stockport County. Timing could hardly be worse for either player or former club.
As the window grinds on, the storylines stack up: McGregor anchoring Celtic’s present while being talked up as a future manager, Rangers recalibrating targets, ambitious English clubs raiding Scandinavia and Scotland, and promising deals derailed by injuries.
The next few weeks will decide which of these threads turn into turning points – and which become what-ifs that linger long after the window closes.
