Brendan Rodgers has wasted no time in outlining his summer priorities, with Celtic set to focus on adding at least one winger and a central midfielder ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
As ever, with transfer season in full swing, names will be dropped and rumours will swirl — some with truth, others wide of the mark. Our aim at CeltsAreHere is to provide readers with as much clarity and context as possible around what’s really going on behind the scenes at Celtic Park.
Despite recent reports from Portugal [A Bola] linking the club to Turkish midfielder Demir Ege Tiknaz, CeltsAreHere can confirm the 20-year-old is not currently on the radar at Lennoxtown. Sources close to the club have made it clear that while Tiknaz may have attracted outside attention, there has been no internal push to pursue a deal.
Instead, Rodgers has been clear in his desire to strengthen in two specific areas as soon as possible — wide positions and central midfield. After a season in which squad depth was stretched thin, particularly during European campaigns and injury spells, the manager wants more flexibility and attacking threat in the final third.
Top Celtic Target Balikwisha
One name that remains very much active on the club’s shortlist is Michel-Ange Balikwisha. The Belgian international has been monitored for some time, and we’ve learned that he is still regarded as a top target for the Scottish champions.
Balikwisha is currently playing for Belgian side Royal Antwerp and has one year remaining on his contract, which expires in June 2026 [TransferMarkt]. With the winger eligible to sign a pre-contract as early as January, Antwerp look set to cash in this summer rather than risk losing him for free next year.
Brendan Rodgers is looking to freshen up the squad with at least three new first-team-ready players this summer. Importantly, that figure does not include Kieran Tierney, whose return from Arsenal was confirmed back in January.
With the Tiknaz talk now put to bed, expect the focus to stay on realistic, high-impact targets — and Balikwisha remains firmly at the front of the queue for now.
No mention of a LB then? We’ve let 2 good ones go in Schlupp and Alex Valle. Tierney will not avoid injuries and should NOT be considered first choice anyway. The should be 2 rotational choices for every position if you want success at a higher level.
It’s only Taylor that thinks Tierney is first choice Taylor has done us alright but he is not a naturally wing back i can’t remember Taylor taking on players he is a midfielder player a wing back is a winger that can defend that means take on players and cross at pace hitting the byline Taylor pass back to much in the spl that’s no good cutting inside when midfield is so congested we will see the difference i don’t indicate Taylor going he done us well but we have done him just as well we need someone that will be classed as number 1 to compete with Tierney not someone who thinks he is nmbr 2