Celtic could be preparing for a major squad shake-up this summer, and one player who may find himself caught in the middle of those changes is young striker Johnny Kenny.
Sources have indicated that the Hoops are considering the possibility of selling the 22-year-old once the season ends, with the club expected to reassess their attacking options as part of a broader rebuild ahead of next season.
Kenny is currently gaining valuable minutes on loan at English League One side Bolton Wanderers, but his long-term future at Parkhead remains uncertain.
With Celtic expected to bring in new attacking reinforcements during the summer transfer window, the Irish forward could find himself even further down the pecking order when he returns.
That leaves the club facing a significant decision. Celtic could opt to send Kenny out on another loan spell to continue his development, or they may decide that a permanent transfer is the best path forward for both the player and the club.
The situation becomes even more complicated when considering the scale of changes Celtic are expected to make during the off-season. With the club preparing to appoint a new manager and reshape the squad, several fringe players may be moved on to make room for fresh signings.
Celtic’s striker concerns driving summer plans
One of the key areas Celtic are expected to strengthen is the forward line.
Despite remaining competitive in the Scottish Premiership title race, the Hoops have struggled to find consistent goals from their strikers throughout the campaign. In fact, midfielder Benjamin Nygren currently leads the club’s scoring charts in league action, highlighting the lack of reliable output from the players tasked with leading the line.
None of Celtic’s primary strikers have managed to break into double figures in the league this season, a statistic that has only intensified calls for the club to bring in a new focal point in attack.
It was this very issue that led to changes during the winter transfer window.
Kenny began the season as part of the attacking rotation and showed flashes of promise, contributing four goals and two assists in 15 league appearances during the first half of the campaign. However, his opportunities became more limited when Celtic brought in additional attacking reinforcements.
The arrivals of Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu on loan pushed Kenny further down the hierarchy, ultimately leading to his move to Bolton Wanderers during the January window.
Since making the switch to England, the striker has shown encouraging signs. Kenny has been involved in four goals across his first six appearances for Bolton, quickly making a positive impression with the Trotters.
However, even a strong loan spell may not be enough to secure his long-term future at Celtic if the club follows through on plans to significantly strengthen the squad this summer.
Celtic’s ruthless summer strategy
The Hoops appear ready to take a ruthless approach in the transfer market as they attempt to build a squad capable of dominating domestically and competing more effectively in Europe.
That strategy could mean difficult decisions for several players currently on the fringes of the first team.
For Kenny, the situation is particularly delicate. At 22, he still has plenty of time to develop, but Celtic may feel that a permanent move elsewhere would allow him to play regularly and continue his growth away from the intense pressure of Parkhead.
Bhoys monitoring Claudio Braga as striker target
Meanwhile, Celtic are already being linked with potential replacements.
Reports have suggested the club holds strong interest in Hearts forward Claudio Braga, who has emerged as one of the most impressive attacking players in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Football Insider revealed last weekend that Celtic would likely need to pay at least £5 million to convince Hearts to part ways with the Portuguese striker.
Braga has enjoyed a standout campaign, scoring 12 goals in 30 league matches. Only Nygren and Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise have managed a better return in the division so far.
His performances have caught the attention of several clubs, but Hearts remain determined to keep hold of their star forward. Manager Derek McInnes is believed to be keen to retain Braga, while the player himself is understood to be happy at Tynecastle.
That means any potential move would likely require a significant financial commitment from Celtic.
Still, the Hoops’ interest highlights just how serious they are about addressing their attacking problems.
And if Celtic do push ahead with plans to bring in a new leading striker this summer, Johnny Kenny may ultimately become one of the players forced to move on as the club reshapes its squad for the future.