Celtic are in the midst of another important summer in the transfer window, having confirmed the appointment of Martin O’Neill as the club’s permanent manager following last season’s domestic success.
The Hoops finished the 2025/26 season having won both the Scottish Premiership title and Scottish Cup.
O’Neill has agreed a one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months after leading Celtic to a domestic double during his third spell in charge.
The experienced manager is now expected to oversee another busy recruitment drive as Celtic prepare for the Champions League.
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Strengthening the squad is one of the club’s key priorities ahead of the new season, and midfield is one area Celtic are looking to strengthen.
Several players have been linked with a move to Parkhead as manager O’Neill assesses his options.
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One name that continues to attract attention is Hibernian midfielder Miguel Chaihua.
The Zambian international had an excellent debut season at Hibs after establishing himself as a key player at Easter Road, with his performances attracting the attention of Celtic.
The Scottish Champions have been monitoring the midfielder for some time and their interest in Chaiwa continues to grow as the summer progresses.
Celtic plan £5m bid for Miguel Chaihua
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Celtic are now planning to test Hibs’ resolve with an offer.
The Hoops are reportedly prepared to bid around £5m for the African player.
However, Football Insider report that Hibs value Chayiwa at around £7m, adding that Celtic have no intention of matching his current valuation.
The asking price is understood to be higher than what Celtic are prepared to pay at this stage.
Instead, the Scottish champions will hope that negotiations will bring the two clubs closer together.
Why Celtic want to sign Miguel Chaihua
The report claims that despite the difference in valuations, the Hoops remain determined to pursue a deal, and it’s easy to see why.
The former Young Boys sensation is a regular player for the Zambia national team and has won praise for his energy, defensive work and calmness in possession.
It is understood that Celtic see the player as someone who can strengthen their midfield in preparation for domestic and European competitions, with the Champions League expected to play a key role in the club’s reinforcement plans this summer.
O’Neill is looking to build a team that can compete on multiple fronts, and Chaiwa could be a valuable addition.
Praised for his ‘elite pace’, Chaiwa finished a solid 25/26 games and established himself as one of the top names on David Gray’s team sheet.
Gray is also full of praise for the midfielder, calling him a modern-day midfielder with great technical ability.
“He’s aggressive, athletic, just a modern-day midfielder,” Gray said last season.
“He’s really competitive, energetic and technically good.”
Celtic are expected to remain active in the transfer market as manager O’Neill prepares for his first full season back in charge.
The club have already laid the foundations by securing their manager’s long-term future after last season’s league and cup wins, and attention now turns to strengthening the squad.
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