Report: Celtic Initiate Talks Over Potential €10m Midfielder Deal

Celtic have reportedly made initial contact with Portuguese side Rio Ave over a potential deal for Demir Tiknaz, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola. The 20-year-old defensive midfielder is currently away with the Turkish national team, but his name has surfaced as a summer target for Brendan Rodgers.

The player has spent the season on loan from Besiktas and Rio Ave are expected to trigger a €5m buy option, they will then consider offers of €10m to sell him on. Not unlike what Oostende did with Jack Hendry a few years ago when they bought out his loan clause and flipped him the same summer to Club Brugge for a sizeable fee.

Standing at 6ft 4, Tiknaz brings a physical presence that’s been largely absent in the current Celtic midfield setup.

The club captain, Callum McGregor, has shouldered much of the responsibility in the holding role, regularly tasked with anchoring play and driving the team forward. With a demanding fixture list across league, domestic cups, and Europe, the need to manage minutes and avoid burnout is becoming increasingly apparent.

Celtic’s current midfield options include McGregor, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Paulo Bernardo, and Luke McCowan. But of that group, only McGregor is naturally suited to sitting deep and dictating tempo from the base of midfield. The potential arrival of Tiknaz could be a clear indication Rodgers wants to reinforce that position he can also just play as a centre mid in front of Cal Mac.

Rodgers has been vocal in the past about the importance of rotation, especially when juggling multiple competitions. McGregor, though supremely consistent, has often been overused, and introducing a player like Tiknaz could allow for a more sustainable midfield approach.

With no official bid lodged yet, it remains early days, but the move signals intent. Celtic are looking to bolster a key area of the park and ensure they’re not overly reliant on McGregor’s tireless engine heading into another demanding season.