Chris Sutton has cast doubt over Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren’s chances of making the step to the English Premier League.
Nygren has hit 19 goals across all competitions, a standout figure in a Celtic side that has not always convinced going forward. That output alone has been enough to spark talk of interest from down south.
Sutton is not buying it. Speaking on The Warm-Up, the former Celtic striker said:
“That’s where I would be sceptical.
“I don’t think he has the dynamism (for the Premier League). He has a wonderful instinct for his movement in the box and where it’s going to land, a nice left foot and a good finisher.
“I am not so sure, just personally, I would have liked to have played with him.”
It is a familiar argument when it comes to Nygren.
The goals are there. The instinct in the box is clear. But his overall contribution in midfield continues to divide opinion.
Celtic have struggled at times in the middle of the park this season. Too often they have been second best physically, lacking urgency and control when games get scrappy. It is a shift from what supporters have come to expect.
Nygren has not been solely responsible for that, but he has been part of a unit that has come under pressure. Still, it would be wrong to dismiss what he has brought.
In a season where goals have not come easily, Nygren has been one of the few reliable sources. He has a habit of turning up in the right area at the right moment, whether it is reacting quickest in the box or finishing off a move that others have helped build.
He is not a midfielder who dictates the tempo. He is at his best when the game is in front of him and the penalty area comes into play. That balance is what Celtic need to get right.
Nygren’s contract runs until 2030, which puts the club in control if interest does firm up in the summer. There is no pressure to sell, and any approach would need to reflect both his output and his importance in a side still finding its rhythm.
For now, the focus is simple. Celtic need goals between now and the end of the season, and Nygren has shown he can provide them.
