Martin O’Neill’s response to Celtic’s Champions League humiliation in Austria may be taking shape in the transfer market – and it has a distinctly Premier League flavour.
Celtic are tracking former Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Spurs. At 29, with years of English top-flight experience behind him, he offers something O’Neill’s side so obviously lacked in that collapse against LASK: control, composure and a bit of edge in the middle of the pitch.
The Mali international built his reputation in England as a ball-winner who relishes duels, snaps into tackles and then drives his team up the pitch. He doesn’t just break up play, he carries the ball through pressure and drags his side 20, 30 yards forward. That profile jumps off the page when you replay Celtic’s struggles in Austria, where their midfield failed to get any sort of grip as the game unravelled.
O’Neill wants reinforcements. Bissouma, on a free, ticks a lot of boxes. But Celtic are not alone at the table.
Journalist Lassana Camara reports that the Glasgow club are “closely following” Bissouma’s situation as the window nears its end, with Ajax and İstanbul Başakşehir also in the hunt. Ajax Amsterdam, rebuilding and rebranding their midfield, have reportedly signalled their interest in bringing Bissouma to the Netherlands. In Turkey, İstanbul Başakşehir FK like his profile as well and are monitoring developments.
The attraction is obvious. After several seasons in the Premier League, Bissouma represents a ready-made option for any club wanting instant impact in the engine room. No adaptation to European football required, no learning curve under the spotlight. Just plug him into a system and ask him to dominate.
For Celtic, the stakes are clear. The Champions League exit to LASK exposed a soft centre that opponents at this level ruthlessly target. A free-agent enforcer with Bissouma’s blend of recovery pace, physical presence and press resistance offers a rare chance to change that dynamic without a hefty transfer fee.
The competition, though, is real. Ajax can offer a proven development pathway and European visibility. Başakşehir can tempt with a different project and environment. Celtic, if they move, will be selling something else: the chance to become the heartbeat of a side desperate to reassert itself on the continental stage.
Camara suggests the picture will sharpen quickly as the transfer window ticks towards its conclusion. The coming hours, he notes, could reveal where Bissouma’s next challenge lies.
If Celtic are serious about fixing the flaw that cost them so dearly in Austria, this is the kind of battle they may have to win.
