When Jakob Breum was first linked with Celtic last summer, the assumption was fairly straightforward.

A creative attacking player from the Eredivisie, he must be a winger. That’s what many of the reports told us.

But a closer look at his recent campaign suggests that perception may be wide of the mark, no pun intended…

In fact, Breum didn’t play as a winger at all last season.

The Danish international spent the overwhelming majority of his minutes operating through the middle for Go Ahead Eagles.

His positional breakdown is revealing.

He made 22 appearances as an attacking midfielder, contributing one goal and six assists.

He featured six times in a deeper defensive midfield role, adding another goal and assist.

And in four appearances as a central midfielder, he scored four goals.

There is little evidence from last season that Breum is viewed as a natural wide player in the Netherlands.

Instead, he appears to have evolved into a versatile midfielder capable of operating in several different roles through the centre of the pitch.

That could make the latest Celtic links particularly interesting.

If Martin O’Neill’s side were to move for Breum this summer, perhaps the intention would not be to strengthen the wing positions at all.

Perhaps the club see him as a potential replacement for Benjamin Nygren.

Nygren enjoyed an outstanding debut season in Glasgow and has already begun attracting attention from elsewhere.

Strong World Cup performances are only likely to increase that interest.

Should the Swedish international depart, Celtic would need to replace not only his creativity but also his ability to influence matches from central areas.

Breum’s profile would appear to align with that requirement more than many supporters might realise.

At 22, he still has room for development, while his ability to operate as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder or deeper playmaker offers flexibility that managers increasingly value.

Of course, this remains speculative.

There is no indication Celtic are actively pursuing a deal at this stage, but news has emerged that he won’t be signing a new deal this summer, with him now in the final 12 months of his current contract.

But if Breum’s name continues to crop up throughout the summer, it may be worth viewing him less as a winger and more as a midfielder.

Because based on how he was used last season, that is exactly what he has become.

If Celtic’s interest is genuine, supporters might need to rethink where they expect him to fit into O’Neill’s plans.