If a recent report from The Daily Record is believed to be true, Celtic are keeping close tabs on Marc Leonard, having scouted the midfielder extensively since his move to the league leaders Hearts on loan from Birmingham City late in the January transfer window.
The 24-year-old former Scotland youth international spent his youth years at Rangers and Hearts before plying his trade south of the border in favour of a transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion. There, he progressed through their reserves but was eventually loaned out to Northampton Town for regular gametime following a couple of League Cup appearances in 2021.
Despite impressing in the lower leagues of the English football pyramid, the Seagulls sanctioned his €590k switch to Birmingham City in the summer of 2024. Leonard helped the Blues earn an immediate promotion to the Championship from League One, but found his involvement limited in the first half of the current campaign.
How He Has Made An Instant Impact on Hearts’ Midfield
Hearts brought him back to his boyhood club earlier this year on a short-term loan. Derek McInnes handed Leonard an immediate start in the middle of the park, and the Scotsman made the opportunity count by setting up a goal for Stuart Findlay from the corner. He has not missed a minute, barring the suspension against Motherwell, as his presence deep down the midfield has bolstered their hopes for the coveted Scottish crown after 66 years.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 15: Marc Leonard of Hearts scores Hearts opening goal during the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox Stadium on February 15, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Celtic are likely to undergo a squad overhaul in the summer. Martin O’Neill, in charge as an interim boss until the end of the season, as well as his assistant Shaun Maloney, are leading the recruitment drive until the Hoops find the veteran Northern Irishman’s long-term successor. They messed it up over the past two windows, and therefore, must do their business early to let the new names settle in under the new manager.
Why Celtic Are Aiming For Leonard
The Bhoys, on paper, are well-equipped in the centre of the pitch. Skipper Callum McGregor is still going strong as a deep-lying playmaker, and the likes of Arne Engels, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan are also there as box-to-box options.
Yet they could face a crisis before next season, with Bernardo and Hatate expected to part ways for first-team football. The club have not decided whether to extend Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract beyond this term, and the growing interest in Engels could force them to cash in on the Belgian.
Hailed for his composure, strong tackling and defensive traits, and ability to build the game up from the back, Leonard’s progressive play further demonstrates his all-round attributes. Celtic and Hearts are having a fierce fight for the silverware, and it remains to be seen whether the Birmingham ace plies his trade in Parkhead this summer.
