Does Hibs Chaiwa tick the boxes for Celtic … and will we move?

Another day, another Celtic transfer story, and this is one of those ones which refuse to disappear.

The interest in Miguel Chaiwa seems to be lingering in the background, never quite going away, never quite becoming a done deal either. We have heard for months now that Celtic admire the player, that Hibs value him highly, and that Chaiwa himself likes the idea of joining Celtic. It is one of those transfer stories that keeps bubbling away beneath the surface, waiting for somebody to finally make a move.

But here is where my concern begins.

Apparently, Miguel Chaiwa likes the idea of joining Celtic. That’s grand. Most players would like the idea of joining Celtic. Most players would like the wages, the trophies, the European football, the packed stadium and the chance to put winners’ medals around their necks.

The question is not whether he likes the idea.

The questions that arise are these; does a short spell of success at Hibs justify a move to the biggest club in the country, and even if you think it does, will our board get its act together and make the move?

There are football clubs, and then there is Celtic.

Wearing the Hoops is not just another job. It is not simply turning up on a Saturday afternoon, collecting your wages and going home. The shirt carries history. It carries responsibility. It carries expectation. Every touch of the ball is analysed. Every bad pass is noticed. Every mistake is discussed. Every success is celebrated.

At some clubs you can disappear after a poor performance.

At Celtic, you cannot.

The support demand excellence because the club itself was built on extraordinary foundations. Every player who walks through the door becomes part of something far bigger than themselves.

That is why I always ask the same question whenever a player is linked with us. Do they truly get it?

Do they understand what it means to wear that jersey?

Do they understand what it means to walk out in front of sixty thousand supporters who expect you to give absolutely everything for the cause?

Do they understand that Celtic supporters will forgive mistakes, but they will never forgive a lack of effort?

Those things matter just as much as ability.

Now, from a football perspective, Chaiwa is certainly an interesting player.

At 22 years of age, he already understands Scottish football. He knows the pace. He knows the physical side of the game. He knows what it feels like to play in difficult conditions and difficult matches.

That immediately gives him an advantage over many players arriving from abroad.

He is strong, energetic and willing to do the dirty work that often goes unnoticed. Every successful team needs players like that. Not every midfielder needs to be flashy. Not every midfielder needs to be scoring goals from thirty yards.

Sometimes you need somebody willing to battle.

Sometimes you need somebody willing to make tackles, close spaces and protect the players around him.

Last season there were moments when Celtic looked far too open in midfield. There were games that became stretched and chaotic when what we really needed was somebody capable of restoring order.

Could Chaiwa be that player? Possibly. That is why this story remains intriguing. The potential is there.

But potential alone never won Celtic a trophy.

The real question is whether he possesses the skill set and the mentality required to thrive here.

As many of you know, I trust my Ginger Witch instincts, and those instincts are giving me mixed signals on this one.

Not bad signals.

Just cautious ones.

I can see why Celtic are interested. I can see why Hibs are reluctant to let him go cheaply. I can see why Chaiwa would be attracted by the opportunity.

But my instincts tell me that if this move happens, the player himself will face the biggest test of his career almost immediately.

There is nowhere to hide at Celtic. The pressure arrives from day one. The supporters will expect him to contribute. The manager will expect him to improve. The club will expect him to help deliver success.

That is a very different challenge from being a promising player at Hibs.

Sometimes the players who arrive with the least fanfare end up becoming the most important.

Sometimes the players who are not headline-grabbing signings quietly establish themselves as vital members of the squad.

Sometimes the players who look like sensible additions rather than glamorous ones end up surprising everyone.

Could Chaiwa be one of those players? Perhaps.

There is certainly enough there to work with.

He has youth on his side.

He has experience of Scottish football.

He has physicality.

He has determination.

Most importantly, he still has room to grow.

Under Martin O’Neill, surrounded by better players and competing every week for trophies, there is every chance that he could develop into something far better than the player we currently see.

But only if he embraces everything that Celtic demands.

Only if he understands that joining Celtic is not the destination.

It is merely the beginning.

That is the challenge awaiting him if this transfer eventually happens.

So, while the rumours continue and negotiations potentially rumble on behind the scenes, I find myself watching this one with genuine curiosity.

Liking the idea of Celtic is easy.

Living the reality of Celtic is something else entirely.

Hanging over all of it, of course, is that this board is slow out of the blocks yet again and there seems to be a lot to do before we can even start with signings. There is a significant issue with the backroom team, for one, and that shows no signs of being resolved.

This club never moves when it should, and the longer we take here the greater is the risk that someone else swoops in.

Whatever the plan is with this player and others it is high time Celtic started putting the pieces in place to make it happen.

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