Celtic wish to do a number of extra items of enterprise for Martin O’Neill earlier than the summer time switch window formally slams shut on Thursday.
A brand new central midfielder is on the agenda for the Scottish Premiership giants after Arne Engels accomplished a transfer to West Ham United for £22m earlier this month.
The Belgian’s exit has left a niche in the midst of the park, regardless of the arrival of Mika Baur from Paderborn, and the membership are pursuing a deal to signal a teenage star as his substitute.
Celtic are in talks with PSV over a £3.4m deal to deliver 19-year-old expertise Joel van den Berg to Parkhead earlier than the top of the window to bolster their midfield ranks.
Why Joel van den Berg is a dangerous signing for Celtic
The Dutchman has scored two targets within the first three matches of the season for PSV’s reserves, scoring towards TOP Oss in his most up-to-date appearances, however he has restricted expertise in first-team soccer.
He has solely performed six matches for PSV’s first-team, enjoying 5 occasions within the Eredivisie final season, and has began the present marketing campaign with the reserves as an alternative of the senior facet.
That means that his performances for PSV’s senior group final season weren’t spectacular sufficient to earn him a daily spot of their squad this time period, which is a priority for Celtic.
|
26/27 Eerste Divisie |
Van den Berg |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
3 |
|
xG |
1.20 |
|
Objectives |
2 |
|
xA |
0.47 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Duel success price |
40% |
|
Floor duel success price |
36% |
While he has scored two targets in three video games, van den Berg’s performances initially of this season within the second tier of Dutch soccer are a trigger for concern, as he has misplaced 64% of his floor duels.
Celtic want midfielders who can address the depth and physicality of Scottish soccer and the teenage expertise’s shows this time period don’t counsel that he’s prepared for that within the right here and now, which is why this may very well be a dangerous signing for the membership.
How Celtic can seal a greater signing than van den Berg
While the PSV teen might arrive at Paradise as a dangerous addition to O’Neill’s first-team squad, the board are taking a look at one other participant who could be an excellent higher signing.
In line with journalist Alan Nixon, through his Patreon, Celtic are plotting a late transfer to signal Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth earlier than the top of the summer time switch window.
The reporter claims that the Hoops made a closing verify on the shot-stopper in Blackburn’s 2-1 loss to Queens Park Rangers within the Championship on Saturday, weeks after that they had already made contact along with his representatives to debate a possible transfer.
Nixon provides that the English facet are on the lookout for a price within the area of £4m for the Hungarian stopper, however {that a} compromise may very well be reached for a deal that works for each events.
The 28-year-old is an skilled goalkeeper who would arrive at Parkhead as an excellent higher signing than van den Berg as a result of he may very well be anticipated to make a direct influence on the pitch.
Viljami Sinisalo has not had a super begin to the 2026/27 marketing campaign, conceding six targets in his final two appearances towards LASK and Falkirk, and didn’t take pleasure in a powerful finish to final season.
|
25/26 Premiership |
Sinisalo |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
12 |
|
Save share |
61% |
|
Objectives prevented |
-1.59 |
|
Saves per recreation |
1.9 |
|
Clear sheets |
1 |
|
Error led to shot |
1 |
|
Penalties dedicated |
0 |
The Finland worldwide solely stored one clear sheet in 12 appearances after taking up from Kasper Schmeichel because the primary, and conceded 1.59 extra targets than anticipated primarily based on the xG of the pictures on his objective.
Toth, in the meantime, managed to maintain eight clear sheets in 34 appearances for Blackburn within the Championship within the 2025/26 marketing campaign, regardless of enjoying for a facet that have been preventing to keep away from relegation.
The Hungary worldwide, who has been capped seven occasions by his nation, solely conceded 0.81 extra targets than anticipated over the course of the season, which reveals that he was kind of on par with what he was anticipated to do as a shot-stopper.
Toth, due to this fact, might arrive at Parkhead as an improve on Sinisalo as a goalkeeper who’s more practical at holding out pictures and extra prone to preserve clear sheets between the sticks.
While van den Berg is a dangerous signing as a consequence of his inexperience and lack of physicality, the £4m-rated star would are available in as an skilled participant who has already confirmed himself as a goalkeeper in a bodily league in England.
The Blackburn star could be a a lot better signing than the Dutch teen as a result of he might be a part of to be O’Neill’s first-choice choice forward of Sinisalo between the sticks, while van den Berg might have time to adapt and show himself earlier than he turns into a daily.
