Celtic Braced For January Bids For 25-Year-Old With Man United & Tottenham Interested: Should O’Neill Refuse To Sell?

Celtic Braced For January Bids For 25-Year-Old With Man United & Tottenham Interested: Should O’Neill Refuse To Sell? Celtic’s attacking form has helped Martin O’Neill’s side stay competitive, but results have exposed their reliance on individual quality. A 7-1 win over Hearts brought goals, while the 2-2 draw with Dundee United showed the side still struggles to control matches. That contrast is significant as January approaches. O’Neill needs reliable goals as domestic and European demands mount, making the prospect of losing a regular scorer particularly concerning. Replacing that output midway through the season would prove difficult, especially if Celtic cannot secure a suitable signing quickly. Benjamin Nygren has become central to that concern. The 25-year-old Sweden international has scored six goals and provided four assists in 11 Premiership appearances this season. He finished as Celtic’s top scorer in his debut campaign after arriving from FC Nordsjælland in 2025 for a reported £1.7 million. His contract runs until June 2030, leaving Celtic in a strong negotiating position. His performances have also attracted attention from England. Pete O’Rourke in Football Insider reported that Celtic expect interest from several clubs ahead of January, with Nottingham Forest among the interested sides. Manchester United and Tottenham are also monitoring the midfielder, although no fresh bid or agreed fee has been confirmed. The report says Celtic could struggle to resist a substantial offer if Nygren wants to leave. Should Celtic reject January offers for Nygren? GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 18: Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Celtic should resist a mid-season sale unless Nygren pushes firmly for a move and a replacement is already lined up. His 10 league goal contributions in 11 games give O’Neill a valuable source of goals from midfield, particularly while the team works through defensive problems. Selling him for a large profit after paying around £1.7 million might please the accounts, but it would leave little time to find someone capable of matching his output. The four-year contract gives Celtic leverage, so they needn’t accept the first offer. Although Premier League clubs can offer wages Celtic would struggle to match, the club should focus on the sporting cost of losing him midway through the campaign. If a bid arrives, Celtic should demand a premium and favour a summer departure unless Nygren makes his position clear. O’Neill needs his goals now.