Celtic

Image source, SNS

Oliver Sorensen could make his Celtic debut against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday after joining on loan from Parma on Tuesday.

Fellow midfielder Callum McGregor returns after the captain's illness, but striker Kasper Hogh and left-back Kieran Tierney will miss out for one game at least with abductor injuries.

Striker Callum Osmand faces several weeks out with an ankle injury, while winger Jota is building up fitness after a long-term knee injury.

Aberdeen are still without defender Kristers Tobers and midfield trio Brad Lyons, Ante Palaversa and Emmanuel Gyamfi.

Image source, SNS

• Hosts Celtic sit top of the Scottish Premiership table on nine points, two points ahead of St Mirren in second after three matches. Celtic won their previous Premiership match 2-1 at home against Falkirk, their third straight league victory.

• Aberdeen slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Rangers at Pittodrie Stadium in their last Premiership match, putting them in 10th place on three points.

• The previous Premiership fixture between the teams saw Celtic win 2-1 at Pittodrie last season. Kieran Tierney opened the scoring for the Hoops in the fifth minute. Benjamin Nygren also was on target. Kevin Nisbet scored for the Dons in the 19th minute from the penalty spot.

• Celtic have got the better of Aberdeen of late, unbeaten in the past 28 Premiership matches between the two teams. A win for Aberdeen would be their first against Celtic in the league since May 2018. During that period, Celtic have outscored the Dons with 71 goals for and 21 against.

• Hosts Celtic have won both of their two previous Premiership contests at Celtic Park this season. Aberdeen lost in their only prior league contest away from home this season. The Dons are on a 13-match away winless streak. The last time they earned a win in a Premiership away game was December 2025 against Dundee.

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Sorensen believes Celtic are getting him in his prime after the midfielder joined on loan from Parma.

The 24-year-old moved to Serie A from Midtjylland last summer and made 37 appearances in all competitions.

And Sorensen says his style of play is well-suited to Celtic's front-foot approach.

"I feel lucky to be a part of this club now, and I hope the style of play can suit me," Sorensen said in a club interview after a move that includes an option to buy.

"It's attacking football, they want to attack and they want to go forward. They want to push the opposing team down in their box so I hope I can contribute and help the team to do that.

"I love to attack, I love to run, I love to defend and I love to tackle, so I'm ready to give 100 per cent.

"I'm 24 now and this should be my peak years, the next three or four years, so I hope I can give them to Celtic."

Image source, Getty Images

Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen is relishing the prospect of playing "attacking football" for the Scottish champions after consulting former Celtic centre-half Erik Sviatchenko before making his season-long loan move.

The Danish pair were team-mates at Midtjylland in their homeland before Sviatchenko moved to Houston Dynamo and Sorensen switched to Serie A.

"I spoke to him and was messaging a bit and he congratulated me for this move and wished me good luck," Sorensen told Celtic TV.

"I should call him in a few days to get all the good places to go and eat and all this stuff!"

Sorensen had loan spells with Fredericia and Norwegian side HamKam before establishing himself with Midtjylland, helping them win the Danish title in 2024 and being named in the Superliga team of the year the following season.

He made 25 starts, including a Europa League qualifying win over Hibernian, and 17 substitute appearances as Parma finished 13th in Serie A last season but has been an unused substitute this term.

Now he makes the move to Celtic Park one year into a five-year contract, with the Glasgow club having the option to buy next summer.

Sorensen made a point of saying: "I hope the style of play can suit me.

"It's attacking football. They want to attack and they want to go forward. They want to push the opposing team down in their box. So I hope I can contribute and help the team to do that.

"I love to attack, I love to run, I love to defend and I love to tackle."

Sorensen arrives in time to be named in Celtic's Europa League squad and manager Martin O'Neill added: "Oliver is someone with really good experience, playing at a high level in both Italy and Denmark.

"He has great energy, he is able to move really well up and down the pitch with strength and can play in a number of positions across the midfield."

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland

Image source, SNS

Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Scottish Premiership meeting with Aberdeen. Here are the key points.

• Maloney says the Scottish champions are "really happy" with their four summer signings so far and "there's some key positions that we still need a bit of work on in the next couple of days".

• The assistant manager says "the profiles of what we need in those positions are really important, that we do replace what we've lost", citing Arne Engels' recent departure. "The club's working really hard to give us those types of players," Maloney added.

• "Some really key positions in the squad, you're looking at three or four and if there's anymore than that, that'll be really, the thinking of the club will be for the future," Maloney said.

• When asked about the possibility of a loan capture of teenage Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka, the assistant says, "it's pretty difficult to talk about" prospective signings and "nothing's confirmed with anyone".

• With goalkeeper Sam Johnstone linked with a season-long loan at Celtic, Maloney says the message to first-choice Viljami Sinisalo is: "You have to keep performing at the levels you are to keep the shirt."

• Celtic "hope" to sign another left-back to compete with Kieran Tierney, says the assistant manager.

• And Maloney revealed "it's possible" Japan midfielder Reo Hatate could move on from the club.

• The assistant expects Wednesday's game "to be a really tough game" and urges Celtic "to be more aggressive", adding: "We want more without the ball."

• Team news: striker Kasper Hogh and defender Tierney will "struggle" to be fit to face Aberdeen but could make the weekend while forward Callum Osmand faces "a few weeks" out with an ankle injury.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka is set to complete a season-long loan move to Celtic.

The 18-year-old will soon travel to Scotland after undergoing a medical ahead of what would be his first senior loan spell.

As first reported by BBC Sport, Mheuka has also signed a new contract until 2033, committing his future to the club as he continues his development.

He attracted interest from at least a dozen clubs this summer, including sides from Europe's top five leagues, Scotland, the Netherlands and the Championship.

However, a move to Celtic Park was ultimately chosen after careful deliberation by Mheuka and Chelsea officials.

Tino
Fan writer

The summer transfer window officially opened on 15 June, 78 days ago.

At the time of writing Celtic have just four new players to show for it.

Four good players by the looks of things, that's important to note, but four all the same.

An average of one signing roughly every 19 days.

And while the official deadline for registering players for European competition doesn't arrive until Wednesday night, you could argue Celtic's real deadline passed some time ago.

Because the window they truly needed to hit was the one that gave Martin O'Neill a stronger squad before the Champions League play-off. That opportunity is gone.

After what happened against LASK, whatever Celtic manage to do in the final hours of the window will inevitably feel slightly hollow.

You can't help but feel we've once again closed the Champions League door on ourselves after qualification has already bolted.

However, that doesn't mean the remaining business is unimportant. Far from it.

We can be frustrated and deflated about what happened in Austria while also recognising we can't wallow in it forever.

There's a Scottish Premiership title to defend, the challenge of Europa League football and the prospect of further new arrivals by the close of the window.

So now the focus has to turn to what Celtic can salvage from these final hours.

And judging by the rumour mill there could be plenty happening.

Midfielders Oliver Sorensen and Joel van den Berg appear to be among the most likely arrivals, while links with Gvidas Gineitis and Justin Devenny continue.

Adding all four would seem excessive, but it at least suggests midfield remains a major priority.

Further forward, teenage Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka is reportedly undergoing a medical ahead of a loan move, potentially providing cover amid further injury concerns for Callum Osmand and uncertainty around Johnny Kenny.

Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has also been heavily linked with a season-long loan, although whether he would arrive as competition for Viljami Sinisalo or something more remains to be seen.

And at full-back, Frankfurt's Niels Nkounkou and Feyenoord's Jordan Lotomba are among the names in circulation. Moves which would provide much-needed depth behind Kieran Tierney, Colby Donovan and the injured Alistair Johnston.

That's no fewer than eight players strongly linked with a move to Glasgow in the final stages of the window.

Maybe none arrive. Maybe several do.

But regardless of how it plays out, the bigger issue is the process that has brought Celtic to this point.

Any transfer can collapse at any time.

A failed medical. A selling club changing its demands. Another team entering the race. An agent moving the goalposts.

That's precisely why leaving so much business until the final hours is so dangerous.

It leaves Celtic operating on a knife-edge.

For a club that talks about being modern, ambitious and progressive, that cannot be the long-term approach.

Like every supporter, I'll be excited if quality players arrive before the deadline, but once the dust settles, Celtic surely have to look back at this window and ask the bigger question - is this really the best way to do business?

I think I know the answer to that, and I'd suspect in some quarters the club do too.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Image source, Getty Images

Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen, 24, has completed a medical in London before a loan move to Celtic. (Anthony Joseph, external)

And PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joel van den Berg, 19, is in Glasgow to complete a move to Celtic worth £3.4m. (Anthony Joseph, external)

Celtic are in talks with Wolves over a loan for former England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, 33. (Daily Record - subscription required, external)

Or, Celtic are to renew their attempts to sign Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth, 28. (Lancashire Telegraph, external)

Meanwhile, Celtic are ramping up efforts to sign Eintracht Frankfurt full-back Niels Nkounkou, 25, who had been set to join Nice in France. (Santi Aouna, external)

Torino rejected an offer from Celtic for midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, 22, over the weekend and, without an increased bid, the Lithuania international will stay in Italy. (ToroGoal, external)

Celtic hold an interest in Southampton right-back Yukinari Sugawara but the 26-year-old Japan international is close to agreeing a loan move to Serie A side Cagliari. (Anthony Joseph, external)

And Celtic have been alerted to a possible loan deal for 19-year-old Chelsea winger Kendry Paez. (Alan Nixon on Patreon - subscription required, external)

Celtic's Japan midfielder Reo Hatate, 28, is nearing a move to England's Championship. (Kaza Kakiuchi, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Image source, Getty Images

Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan has praised the way Martin O'Neill's side responded to their ignominious Champions League exit by beating Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

And Allan believes Celtic have unearthed a superstar in forward Camilo Duran, who got both goals in the 2-1 win over the Bairns.

Austrian champions LASK fought back from four goals down on aggregate as Celtic collapsed on Tuesday - but the chastened Premiership champions saw off Falkirk as they returned to the domestic agenda.

"It really was the manner in how they gave up a 4-0 lead to LASK - genuine disbelief at how that second half panned out for Celtic," Allan said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But ultimately you have to get your chest out. Fans will still have a sour taste in their mouth about how the game went against LASK and all you can do is try and improve."

Colombian Duran was a threat through the middle in Kasper Hogh's absence, having operated effectively out wide in previous games.

"They've got quality at the top end of the pitch. Duran looks a fantastic find, he really does," added Allan.

"He makes clever runs and likes the contact. He's one of the strikers who likes the contact - he wants to feel the defender there.

"He can link up play and he's been scoring some really good goals. So I think domestically Celtic are going to be fine.

"But I'm not sure whether it's enough for the fans who want to see the squad reinforced with more quality in areas they've been asking for over probably the last season."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jack Walton (Dundee United): Five saves and a clean sheet - job done.

Felix Passlack (Hibernian): An assist from the consistently impressive German.

Bert Esselink (Dundee United): Powerful performance and an away clean sheet.

Grant Hanley (Hibernian): Was it intentional? Who cares. Great assist for Martin Boyle.

Will Ferry (Dundee United): Glorious strike with his less favoured right foot as United put Kilmarnock to the sword.

Callum Wright (Hibernian): Another goal for the English midfielder just gives him the nod here over new addition Jacob Devaney, who was also very good.

Emmanuel Agyei (Dundee United): Two key passes and a goal from the Ghana international.

Alex Lowry (Motherwell): Five key passes and always looking to get Motherwell on the front foot.

Samuel Ramos (St Mirren): A goal and two assists from the Spaniard.

Camilo Duran (Celtic): The difference maker against Falkirk with two goals.

Mehdi Merghem (Dundee United): The Algerian more than played his part in an outstanding away display with two assists.

Celtic have reached a broad agreement with PSV Eindhoven for Joel van den Berg and the 19-year-old midfielder is set to travel to Glasgow on Monday. (Rik Elfrink via Scottish Sun)

Celtic have taken an interest in £6m-rated Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny, the left-sided midfielder who was born in Irvine but plays for Northern Ireland. (The Herald)

Celtic have shown tentative interest in Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope to provide competition for Viljami Sinisalo. (The Chronicle)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown likens Dundee United left-back Will Ferry to Kieran Tierney, and says Ferry would be a good capture for Celtic.

Celtic's Champions League exit will have affected the mood in the camp, says former captain Scott Brown.

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admits his squad will have to "hang in there" until they reach full fitness.

Captain Callum McGregor missed Saturday's visit of Falkirk through illness while Celtic were also without striker Kasper Hogh, right-back Alistair Johnstone and midfielder Reo Hatate through injury.

The Parkhead club are still waiting for the return of long-term absentee Jota while there were fresh concerns for left-back Kieran Tierney and striker Callum Osmand after Saturday's 2-1 win.

The fitness of available players has also become a concern after Tuesday night's collapse against LASK in Austria with the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Colby Donovan and Tierney needing to be replaced due to cramp.

"When we went to Portugal in pre-season, a lot of the senior players weren't there for one reason or another," the 74-year-old said when asked about fitness issues in the squad.

"We had Callum, Carter-Vickers, maybe four, and essentially it was the youth lads like young [Liam] Kennedy and people like that.

"And while they got a great benefit out of the pre-season, it wasn't beneficial for those boys who were coming back from World Cup duty.

"We've got to hang in there. We really have got to hang in until these boys get really true fitness, proper fitness.

"I thought that we had enough problems last season with it, players going down like Kieran, not finishing games.

"We've got to monitor that and we've got to get through these games. I thought that Wednesday night's game against LASK would bring that sort of fitness on because it's a different level again. And then we had the 120 minutes and the disappointment. So I'm pleased to have won."

Watch the best of the action as Celtic rebound from Champions League play-off failure by maintaining their 100% Premiership start with a 2-1 win over Falkirk. (Available to UK users only)

Celtic fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 2-1 win over Falkirk.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Having been read the LASK rites midweek, it was good to see Celtic return to winning ways. The centre of defence looked more assured with Liam Scales back there and Camilo Duran, a different striker to Kasper Hogh, showed what he can when playing off the last man.

Patrick: In desperate need of squad depth again. The sickness, combined with injuries, have shown we're short at right-back, left-back, central midfield and centre forward. Still winning which is something but that won't cut it in Europe.

Alan: Such a drop off in quality when the subs come on, we badly need reinforcements. Why do other teams not seem to have trouble closing deals?

Tony: The scoreline may of look close but it was far from it. Celtic totally dominated the game. A few decent signings before deadline day and the league is in the bag, if it isn't already. Nobody can touch us in Scotland, miles ahead of everyone else.

John: Martin O'Neil should have left after winning the double, simple. We needed a fresh injection of a manager with new ideas. Callum Osmand is an outstanding talent, how he can't start is unbelievable.

Liam: We created plenty but were as wasteful as ever. Duran is going to be a class act though. Sadly our shameless board will hold us back.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Cesar Peixoto has told 33-year-old England international goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who is under consideration by Celtic, he is not part of his plans. (Glasgow Times, external)

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.