Celtic are expected to face a crucial summer as the club looks to rebuild after what has been a frustrating 2025/26 campaign so far.
The Hoops currently sit second in the Scottish Premiership after losing seven league matches, while their European journey ended earlier than hoped in the Europa League. To make matters worse, they also fell short in the League Cup final against St Mirren.
Those setbacks have left plenty of questions about the direction of the squad, and the upcoming transfer window could prove decisive in shaping the club’s future.
One of the biggest early decisions will revolve around the managerial position. Celtic must determine whether Martin O’Neill will be offered the role on a permanent basis or whether a new manager will be brought in to lead the next phase of the project.
Either way, strengthening the attacking department appears to be a priority.
After 30 league matches, Benjamin Nygren is the only Celtic player to have scored more than seven goals in the Premiership, with the midfielder leading the scoring charts on 15. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney currently tops the assist rankings with seven.
For a club competing for the title, that lack of consistent attacking output is a clear concern.
Celtic could see £5m bid accepted for SPFL star
As a result, Celtic are expected to be active in the transfer market in search of attacking quality.
Ideally, the club would love to uncover another player capable of making the same kind of impact that Matt O’Riley delivered during his time at Parkhead.
During the 2023/24 season, the Danish playmaker was sensational in the Premiership, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists in just 37 league appearances before securing a £25 million move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Finding a player capable of producing similar numbers would instantly transform Celtic’s attacking threat.
One name that has recently emerged as a potential target is Hearts attacker Claudio Braga.
Reports last week suggested Celtic are preparing a summer move for the Portuguese forward as they look to add creativity and goals to the final third.
Now, journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the Hoops may not need to break the bank to secure his signature.
Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke suggested that Hearts could consider offers in the region of £4–5 million.
“You’re probably looking at around £4-5 million for him right now, due to his form, and as I said, I don’t think Hearts would have any plans to let him move across Scotland to Celtic.”
He added: “I think Braga is happy at Hearts, and Hearts are very happy with him, so I don’t see a move in the offing for the Portuguese striker to Celtic.”
While O’Rourke believes a deal may be difficult to pull off, the potential transfer fee would still represent a relatively affordable opportunity for Celtic if they truly want to strengthen their attacking options.
Why Celtic must sign Claudio Braga
If Celtic are serious about addressing their attacking struggles, Braga could be the perfect addition.
The Portuguese star operates as an attacking midfielder or second striker and has already demonstrated his ability to produce consistently in the Scottish Premiership.
This season alone, Braga has scored 12 league goals from an expected goals figure of 11.65 across 30 appearances — a return that highlights both his finishing ability and his reliability in front of goal.
His overall contribution has been equally impressive.
In his debut season in Scotland, Braga has registered 12 goals and five assists in 30 league matches, playing a key role in Hearts’ push near the top of the table.
Across all competitions, the 26-year-old has delivered 15 goals and six assists in 36 appearances.
For comparison, Nygren remains Celtic’s most productive attacking player this season with 19 goals and seven assists in 48 games.
That means Braga is currently averaging 0.58 goal contributions per game, slightly ahead of Nygren’s average of 0.56 — an impressive statistic considering Nygren has been the Hoops’ standout performer.
Braga has also shown he thrives on the biggest stages.
Against the two Glasgow giants this season, he has recorded three goals and five assists in just six matches — a record that highlights both his quality and his ability to perform under pressure.
Those numbers suggest Braga not only has the talent to succeed at Celtic but also the mentality required to deliver in high-stakes matches.
At 26, he is also entering the prime years of his career, meaning Celtic would likely be signing a player ready to make an immediate impact rather than one who still needs years of development.
For those reasons, Braga could easily become the most exciting attacking arrival at Parkhead since O’Riley if Celtic manage to complete the deal.
The challenge now lies with the club’s hierarchy.
Convincing Hearts to sell one of their most important players — particularly to a direct domestic rival — will not be straightforward. But if Celtic are determined to strengthen their squad and reignite their title push next season, Braga may prove to be a transfer worth fighting for.