Celtic have enjoyed a strong 2024–25 season, leading the Scottish Premiership and delivering commendable performances in Europe. However, manager Brendan Rodgers has emphasised the need for squad rejuvenation to maintain their competitive edge.
While Celtic’s domestic dominance is evident, their European journey highlighted areas for improvement. A narrow aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League playoffs underscored the team’s potential and the fine margins at the highest level.
In his side’s defence, against most other sides Celtic may have scraped by. Still, with Vincent Komapny’s Bavarians knowing the final was in their own backyard, there was too much at stake for them to become another statistic in the new format of the Champions League – eventually living up to expectations in the playoff.
With a fine, slight alterations, this Celtic side could knock on the door once again next term, yet their standards have slipped in recent weeks.
The St. Johnstone defeat at the start of April—a single goal like a solitary crack in a fortress wall—became not just a loss but a revelation. Rodgers, custodian of Celtic’s immediate destiny, stepped forth not with excuses but with vision, his words cutting through the disappointment with surgical precision.
“I think change is needed,” he said. “We will bring players in to challenge the squad and the team for the summer.”
The Northern Irishman’s recent comments signal more than just tactical tweaks—they reflect a broader shift in mindset. He emphasises that to maintain Celtic’s success, the team must avoid complacency and continually seek improvement.
Every revolution requires sacrifice, and Celtic’s transformation will likely claim familiar faces. Greg Taylor stands at this crossroads, his journey potentially diverging as Kieran Tierney’s shadow lengthens from Arsenal’s direction. Taylor’s time—a collection of brilliant and ordinary moments—may find its concluding chapter written in another stadium’s narrative.
Nicolas Kühn, whose Celtic story remains a half-finished manuscript, has yet to fully inscribe his name in the club’s continuing saga. According to data from Gambling.com, his departure, which is heavily backed by many bookies, would represent potential unrealisation—a character arc truncated before its climactic scenes.
Reo Hatate, whose feet sometimes speak poetry and other times stumble on prosaic pitches, embodies talent’s enigmatic nature. His inconsistency—flashes of brilliance interwoven with stretches of ordinariness—leaves his Celtic future balanced on the knife-edge of possibility.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, steadfast in defence, may attract suitors whose financial power speaks volumes that Celtic’s ambition cannot easily counter. Every defender knows that sometimes retreat enables greater forward movement.
Players will always come and go at Celtic Park, it’s the nature of the game in Scotland. Daizen Maeda stepping into a central striker role and Adam Idah providing depth.?
Maeda has thrived in his new position, scoring 15 goals in 12 appearances since Kyogo’s exit, bringing his season total to 30. Rodgers has praised Maeda’s work rate and movement, as a central striker.
Idah, signed permanently from Norwich City in August, has contributed 13 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. While his goal tally is modest, his physical presence and versatility have been valuable assets to the squad.
One of the primary targets is Mathias Kvistgaarden, a 22-year-old striker from Brøndby IF. Kvistgaarden has been on Celtic’s radar for some time, and the club is reportedly in talks over a potential deal.
Brøndby values the player at over £10 million. While Celtic previously hesitated at this price, they may now be more inclined to invest in a long-term replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi.
Another player attracting interest is Herba Guirassy, an 18-year-old winger from FC Nantes. Guirassy has made a significant impact in Ligue 1, scoring three goals in 17 appearances this season. His performances have caught the attention of both Celtic and Leeds United. Nantes is reportedly open to selling the young talent for around €10 million.
In midfield, Celtic are considering a move for Elvis Rexhbecaj, a 27-year-old defensive midfielder from FC Augsburg. The 27-year-old has been a consistent performer in the Bundesliga, and his experience could provide valuable depth to Celtic’s midfield. With his contract set to expire in 2026, Augsburg may be open to negotiating a transfer fee in the region of £3–3.5 million.
Rodgers understands that teams, like stories, require periodic plot twists to maintain their grip on our imagination. His vision for Celtic’s renewal acknowledges football’s dual nature—both business and romance, both science and art, both present and future.
As summer approaches, Celtic’s faithful await this transformation not merely with speculation but with the deeper understanding that their club’s journey, like all great sporting institutions, represents something beyond silverware —it embodies continuity amid change. The league should always be won but better performances in Europe should also be the aim.
In football’s ceaseless cycle, Celtic’s summer of change stands not as disruption but as a necessary ritual—the purposeful dismantling that precedes greater construction, the momentary uncertainty that enables lasting certainty.
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