Callum McGregor's Commitment to Celtic and Future Prospects

Callum McGregor has nailed his colours to the Celtic mast – and one of his predecessors in the Parkhead dugout believes the captain’s long game could end with him in the manager’s office.

Martin O'Neill, who knows exactly what it takes to carry the weight of Celtic expectation, has backed the 33-year-old midfielder to one day lead the club from the touchline. The endorsement comes after McGregor met chief executive Michael Nicholson in the summer and made it clear he is happy to stay with the Scottish champions, ending whispers of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

The talks, revealed in reports from Glasgow, underlined McGregor’s status as more than just a senior player. He is the heartbeat of the dressing room, the public face of the squad and, in O’Neill’s eyes, a manager in waiting. At a time when big-money offers from abroad are unsettling squads across Europe, Celtic’s captain has chosen stability, responsibility and the chance to shape the club’s next era from within.

Celtic Market Activity

Celtic, though, are far from settled in the market.

Kieran Tierney, back in the gossip columns and back on the radar of clubs abroad, has attracted an approach from Osasuna. The Scottish champions have knocked it back. The 29-year-old Scotland left-back, whose connection with the fanbase runs deep, remains a prized asset, and Celtic have made it clear they will not be pushed into a cut‑price exit.

On the other flank, the champions are pushing hard to add more attacking threat. Frosinone have rejected an opening bid of around £6m for Algeria winger Fares Ghedjemis, a player also linked with Rangers. The Serie A side want to keep the 23-year-old, but negotiations remain alive, with Celtic testing the resolve of a club determined not to be raided on the cheap.

The recruitment drive stretches into midfield. Celtic are preparing an improved, structured package worth around £5m for Mika Baur as the 22-year-old Paderborn player continues to push for a move to Glasgow. Yet the German club are standing firm in public. A £4m offer has already been turned down and head coach Ralf Kettemann has told local outlet NW Sport he expects Baur to stay. For now, at least, the tug of war continues.

Out wide, another name on Celtic’s radar has hit a barrier. Real Oviedo have rejected an offer of approximately £6.2m from Lens for winger Haissem Hassan, who has also been linked with the Scottish champions. The Spanish club’s stance only inflates a market Celtic are trying to navigate with precision rather than panic.

Rangers Market Activity

Across the city, Rangers are feeling the squeeze of a different kind of competition.

Hull City are poised to beat both Rangers and Cardiff City to the signing of Tromso’s 20-year-old midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl. Reports in England suggest the Championship club have moved into pole position, with Football Insider stating that Rangers have now withdrawn from the race. For a side under pressure to refresh and add energy, missing out on a young target to a club outside the Premier League will sting.

There is more frustration on the flanks. Rangers have held discussions with Brighton & Hove Albion over Amario Cozier-Duberry, but Brighton are in no rush to sell. The Premier League club have already rejected a £5m offer from Anderlecht for the 21-year-old winger, underlining the scale of the fee it might take to tempt them. Rangers want pace and creativity; Brighton hold the cards.

One of last season’s Ibrox loanees, Mikey Moore, is on the move again. Cologne are favourites to sign the 18-year-old Tottenham Hotspur winger on loan, with talks at an advanced stage amid interest from several clubs. His time at Rangers gave a glimpse of his potential; his next step looks set to come in the Bundesliga rather than back in Scotland.

Other Premiership Updates

Elsewhere in the Premiership, clubs are juggling ambition with realism.

St Mirren insist there has been no contact from any club over 24-year-old midfielder Killian Phillips despite speculation. The message is simple: noise on the outside, silence on the inside, and a key player still very much in their plans.

St Johnstone, meanwhile, have suffered a blow to their hopes of landing a significant sell-on windfall for Adama Sidibeh. The striker, previously tipped for a £1.5m move amid Championship interest, has picked up a hamstring injury at Stockport County. For a club that relies on smart trading, the timing could hardly be worse.

Lower down the English pyramid, Scottish interest is shaping the market. Notts County have expressed an interest in Northampton Town’s 25-year-old Scottish defensive midfielder Dean Campbell, with several League One clubs monitoring him. It is a reminder that Scottish talent continues to travel well, even when the headlines sit elsewhere.

Another young Scot is on the move at the top end of the English game. Brighton & Hove Albion have agreed a fee to sign 17-year-old winger Mason Stephens from Manchester City, with the teenager expected to sign a three-year contract. Brighton’s recruitment machine has built a reputation on spotting the next wave early; Stephens is the latest to step into that system.

From McGregor’s long-term commitment at Celtic to the fine margins of deals across Scotland and beyond, the picture is clear. Stability now is a choice, not a given. The players and clubs who read this market best will decide who sets the pace when the season’s real battles begin.