'He could come in' - O'Rourke: Celtic to revive hunt for potential Arne Engels replacement
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(Credit: Imago) Celtic to reignite Miguel Chaiwa move after January deal fell through Sat 11 April 2026 9:00, UK Celtic have been backed to reignite their efforts to sign Hibernian star Miguel Chaiwa ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.The 21-year-old has turned in a number of impressive performances in the Scottish Premiership this season and is highly-rated behind the scenes at Parkhead.His displays against the Hoops have also raised interest in his situation, with Martin O’Neill’s side keen to bolster their midfield options when the window opens.As I reveled on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Chaiwa could be available this summer and fits the profile Celtic are looking for.It is shaping up to be a busy summer in Glasgow, with Celtic already making transfer plans alongside efforts to bring in a new manager and revamp their recruitment team. 🔄 Celtic Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on latest signings, departures, and contract news from the Parkhead boardroom. VISIT THE CELTIC TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Celtic plan to return for Miguel Chaiwa after deadline day dramaFootball Insider exclusively revealed on deadline day of the winter window that Celtic had lined up a deal for Chaiwa in case Arne Engels left the club late on.While neither deal eventually materialised after Nottingham Forest saw offers for Engels rejected, Celtic’s interest in the Hibs star is not believed to have faded.Miguel Chaiwa2025-26 StatsAppearances27Starts18Minutes Played1696Goals2Miguel Chaiwa’s stats for Hibernian in 2025-26.
(via Transfermarkt)They have been keeping a close eye on his performances so far this season and could accelerate their interest to finally lure him to Parkhead.Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I’m sure he’s a player who remains on their radar. They did consider a move in January, but nothing really materialised.“Chaiwa has had a really good season for Hibs, he’s just 21 as well, so he would fit the profile for the type of player that Celtic are trying to bring in to develop.
“And again, he has impressed against Celtic when he has come up against them this season in the Scottish Premiership.“Celtic know they need to strengthen this summer, it’s been a really disappointing season for them.“They’ve got a player there in Chaiwa who obviously knows the Scottish Premiership as well, so he could come in and maybe make an instant impact if Celtic were to sign him.”Celtic plan for busy summer transfer windowChaiwa is not the only player on Celtic’s radar ahead of the summer as they are preparing for a busy transfer window after what has been a frustrating season.Football Insider revealed last month that Celtic must make major signings regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League or risk falling behind.Credit: ImagoO’Neill’s side currently sit third in the Scottish Premiership table behind league-leaders Hearts and rivals Rangers in a closely-fought battle for the title.Winning the league and ultimately securing qualification for the Champions League would be a huge boost in terms of their plans for the summer.However, even if they miss out on the financial and reputational boost, Celtic are aware they must improve their squad after failing to spend in recent windows.