Celtic have stayed right in the hunt as the 2025–26 William Hill Premiership season reaches its peak, though the race for the trophy is still anyone’s game. Their last league game ended in a tight 1–0 win over St Mirren on 11 April, coming off the back of a 2–1 victory away at Dundee on 5 April.
However, that 2–0 loss to Dundee United on 22 March left fans at Parkhead feeling a bit uneasy. Celtic are set to host Falkirk on 25 April before matches against Hibernian and Rangers finish off the season. These next few weeks will decide if the Hoops keep their title, and how they handle the summer transfer window might be just as important.
Brighton and Bournemouth keep tabs on Nygren as Premier League interest grows
Celtic’s Swedish forward Benjamin Nygren is currently at the heart of transfer rumours, with a few Premier League teams reportedly keeping a close eye on him. Football Insider mentioned that Brighton and Bournemouth are among the clubs watching the 24-year-old, while former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown noted that it is almost impossible for a player in Scotland to ignore interest from the Premier League.
Brown suggested that if Celtic don’t win the league, keeping a player of Nygren’s quality will be much tougher. He added that Celtic might feel forced to sell and use that money elsewhere if a serious bid actually comes in.
“It’s difficult for Celtic to keep hold of players like this,” Brown told Football Insider.
“When there’s interest from Premier League clubs, the player is always going to want to make the move, because it’s a step up on where he is at the moment.
“Especially if Celtic don’t manage to win the league, that will make it even more difficult.
“Brighton, Bournemouth and the majority of Premier League clubs will be keeping a close eye on the Scottish league to see if there are any standout players.
“Nygren has been terrific for Celtic this season, so I have no doubts he’s come up on their radars.
“If that interest is solid and one of the clubs decides to make a move, Celtic could be forced to let him go, because it will be in their best interest.
“He will be looking to make the move, and if the money is right, it will make sense for them to cash in and then they can go and spend on improving the squad.”
The stats suggest why teams are so interested. Nygren has racked up 15 goals and five assists in 32 Premiership games this season, giving him 20 goal involvements at a rate of 0.85 per 90 minutes. He is scoring 0.64 goals per 90 minutes, and his non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 15.19 puts him in the top 98th percentile of Premiership players.
His passing is just as strong, as he completes about 82.67% of his 44.68 passes per match, manages 2.19 key passes per game, and his expected assists (xA) of 0.28 per 90 minutes is better than 94% of the rest of the league. (stats via Footy Stats)
Would selling Nygren actually help Celtic, or leave them in a hole?
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 29: Benjamin Nygren of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Celtic are in a tough spot here. To be honest, selling Nygren would likely make the team worse in the short term, no matter how much money they get. He isn’t just there to finish chances; he’s the main spark for almost everything Celtic create in the final third. Replacing that kind of production, 20 goal involvements in one year, is a lot harder than just looking at a bank balance.
Brown is right that a big sale could pay for several new players, but Celtic’s issue has rarely been a lack of cash. The real struggle is finding and signing a replacement good enough to keep things moving in Europe and at home.
Plus, losing Nygren to the Premier League could frustrate the rest of the squad. Celtic need to balance the business side of a big transfer against the actual cost to the team on the pitch. In the end, the best move is probably to say no unless a massive offer comes in, and even then, they need a replacement ready to go before they let him leave.
