Celtic Eyes Yves Bissouma to Strengthen Midfield

Celtic’s bruising exit from Europe has left more than a mark on the scoreboard. It has exposed a soft centre in midfield that Martin O’Neill now looks determined to harden – and Yves Bissouma has moved sharply into focus.

The former Tottenham midfielder, 29 and available on a free after leaving Spurs, is being closely monitored by Celtic as they weigh up late-window options. For a club that must rebuild both confidence and control after their collapse against LASK, the profile makes obvious sense.

This is a player forged in the Premier League, a league where you either win duels or disappear. Bissouma built his reputation on the dirty work: snapping into tackles, pinching back possession, then driving through the press with the ball at his feet. He doesn’t just screen a back four. He drags his team up the pitch.

That is exactly what Celtic lacked in Austria. When the pressure rose, their midfield shrank. LASK took command in the centre of the park, and O’Neill’s side never truly wrestled it back. The gap between what Celtic had and what they needed was laid bare for all to see.

Now the market has offered up an intriguing answer.

Bissouma’s situation has drawn attention across the continent. Journalist Lassana Camara reports that Celtic are “closely” following the Mali international, but they are not alone in the chase. Ajax have stepped into the race, with the Dutch giants understood to be keen on bringing him to Amsterdam. İstanbul Başakşehir have also identified him as a target as the window ticks towards its close.

Camara outlines a simple picture: a free agent with Premier League pedigree, several European clubs circling, and a decision looming as the hours run down. For Bissouma, it is a chance to reset his career. For Celtic, it could be a rare opportunity to add top-level experience without a transfer fee.

The appeal is obvious from Glasgow’s side. A midfield that buckled on the Champions League stage now needs a player who relishes that level of intensity, someone who can steady a side under fire and still carry the ball into enemy territory. Bissouma has done that in some of the toughest arenas in England.

The question is whether Celtic can win a battle that extends beyond Scotland. Ajax offer a renowned development platform and regular European football. Başakşehir provide another route back into continental competition and a different kind of project. Each club can make a persuasive case.

What Celtic can put on the table is clear: a passionate stage, the lure of domestic dominance, and the promise of another shot at the Champions League with a rebuilt spine. After several seasons in England, Bissouma stands on the brink of a new European chapter.

Where he chooses to write it will say plenty about Celtic’s pulling power under O’Neill – and about how serious they are about fixing the flaw that cost them so dearly against LASK.