Celtic Have Shortlisted The Profile They Need After Rangers Defeat: Why Is The Former Spurs Player A Right Option?

Celtic Have Shortlisted The Profile They Need After Rangers Defeat: Why Is The Former Spurs Player A Right Option? Celtic are working on plans to add a physical, ball-winning midfielder, with the January window in view. According to an exclusive report from CeltsAreHere , the club’s recruitment staff have identified that profile as a priority, although the search began before Sunday’s 3-0 League Cup defeat by Rangers at Ibrox. Martin O’Neill admitted afterwards that Rangers looked physically stronger, while Callum McGregor, Mika Baur and Benjamin Nygren struggled to regain control in midfield. Celtic had already tried to recruit a defensive midfielder during the summer, but rising financial demands killed the deal. That left O’Neill without the specialist presence he wanted. Club chiefs aren’t expected to react with a panic signing. Early work should focus on finding a player who can offer size, ball-winning and presence in the middle. Celtic need an answer now, not in January Could a £0 signing solve Celtic’s midfield issue? That is why Yves Bissouma stands out. The 30-year-old Mali international remains a free agent after Tottenham confirmed his departure when his contract ended in June. Spurs record 111 appearances for the club, while his earlier Premier League spell at Brighton showed the qualities that made him a £30m-level signing in 2022. BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Yves Bissouma of Tottenham warms up wear long earrings during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on May 03, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Bissouma gives O’Neill something this Celtic midfield currently lacks, and that’s a ball-winner who can absorb pressure, compete in duels and carry possession through the first wave. He can play short passes under pressure too, which matters because Celtic need more than a destroyer. Against Rangers, the problem involved winning the second ball and then keeping it. Bissouma’s profile addresses both jobs. Should Celtic move before the winter window? Waiting looks risky because Bissouma is available now, although fitness and consistency deserve proper scrutiny after a difficult final season in north London and a spell without competitive football. There’s another complication. Ajax have been linked with him, while Lazio and Juventus have considered the free-agent option, so Celtic cannot assume the midfielder will remain available until January. The Ibrox result didn’t create Celtic’s midfield problem; it exposed it in brutal fashion. O’Neill’s own admission gives the recruitment team a clear warning. If Bissouma can pass the medical, meet the wage structure and regain sharpness quickly, Celtic should seriously explore a deal now rather than save the problem for January. After the failed summer move, leaving a proven defensive midfielder sitting without a club would be a strange gamble for Celtic.