£2m SPFL star now needs to hitch Celtic

It is troublesome to think about too many gamers who’re fairly so very important to their group as Celtic skipper Callum McGregor, the skilled Scot having lengthy been the standard-bearer at Parkhead.

12 years on from his Hoops debut, the 33-year-old is an 11-time Premiership winner, main the cost repeatedly in a relentless pursuit of home dominance.

It stated all of it final season that even towards decrease league minnows, Auchinleck Talbot, the captain nonetheless performed 80 minutes in that 2-0 victory, with Martin O’Neill not prepared to take the danger of seeing what his aspect seems like with out McGregor in it.

Certainly, the academy graduate proved the one true fixed amid midfield upheaval in 2025/26, with now the time to make sure he’s aided by new arrivals to accomplice him.

Celtic handed increase as £2m goal makes switch choice

There may very well be one thing of a mass exodus from Celtic’s midfield ranks this summer season, with Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate seemingly destined to depart, whereas a call nonetheless must be made on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract extension.

Equally too, there may be additionally the small matter of Arne Engels’ future, with stories final week revealing that Nottingham Forest and Sunderland are battling it out to signal the spectacular Belgian.

One man who has been tipped to doubtlessly substitute the 22-year-old is Bosnia’s Benjamin Tahirovic, though O’Neill and co might additionally look slightly nearer to dwelling too for a standout possibility.

As reported by CeltsAreHere, the Scottish champions have been handed a big increase of their pursuit of Hibernian midfielder, Miguel Chaiwa.

Talks have already been carried out concerning a deal for the 22-year-old in current months, though there was little progress as but amid a distinction in valuation.

That stated, the optimistic information is that Chaiwa is believed to be eager on making the swap, with the switch payment – doubtlessly set to be round £2m – seemingly the one sticking level.

Why Chaiwa signing may very well be excellent news for McGregor

It is felt like a protracted whereas since Celtic boasted a dynamic, athletic midfield core, with the dearth of mobility having been a definite difficulty in 2025/26, notably with Benjamin Nygren making up the midfield trio.

The likes of an ageing Oxlade-Chamberlain and an out-of-sorts Hatate additionally provided little in that sense both, with now the time for a recent injection of youth and power – one thing that Chaiwa will surely present.

As famous by author Michael Shearer, it is a man with “elite tempo“, somebody who can cowl floor effortlessly and at velocity, thus offering precisely what Celtic have been crying out for of late.

Certainly, within the view Hibs boss David Grey, he is a “correct modern-day midfielder“:

Within the Premiership final season, as an example, he matched McGregor with 0.9 interceptions per recreation, with the following highest midfielder in O’Neill’s ranks having been Engels with simply 0.5 in that regard.

A robust, towering midfielder, Chaiwa is actual pillar within the Hibs midfield, as seen in the truth that he was dribbled previous simply 0.6 occasions per recreation in 2025/26.

The Zambian additionally gained 56% of his complete duels and 59% of his floor duels, so adept at regaining possession for his aspect. For comparability, whereas Engels might have been working in a extra dominant, possession-heavy aspect, he did solely win 41% of his complete duels and 38% of his floor duels.

There’s additionally loads to love about Chaiwa’s ball-carrying capability too, having averaged 0.8 profitable dribbles per recreation, once more considerably forward of Engels for that very same metric (0.1).

Such high quality was notably evident within the February assembly between the 2 sides, with Chaiwa efficiently finishing all 4 of his tried dribbles, whereas successful six of eight floor duels and boasting a stellar 91% cross accuracy charge.

He is neat and tidy, but can properly wriggle his manner up the pitch, doubtlessly easing the burden on McGregor in finishing up that activity of progressing play from deep.

Not solely would Chaiwa doubtlessly present one thing of a long-awaited understudy to the skipper, however he might additionally provide the ageing star an appropriate accomplice, permitting McGregor’s attacking abilities to come back to the fore.

It is felt, at occasions, that the long-serving playmaker has nearly needed to do it on his personal in midfield in current seasons, but bringing in recent, youthful legs might assist to shift the dynamic.