Celtic Set To Reignite Interest In This 21-Year-Old Player: Would He Fix Their Problem? | OneFootball

Celtic enter the final weeks of the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership campaign in third place, three points behind leaders Hearts and two behind Rangers. It is one of the tightest title races Scottish football has seen in decades.

The defending champions, usually so dominant, now face the real possibility of losing their crown to Hearts, who are a club chasing their first top-flight title since 1960. No matter how the race ends, the need for a major squad overhaul this summer is the most urgent task for the Parkhead board as the next transfer window looms.

Celtic Set to Revive Chaiwa Interest Ahead of Summer Window

Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke recently reported that Celtic still have a serious interest in Hibernian midfielder Miguel Chaiwa. While the club looked into a January move before backing off, O’Rourke notes that the 21-year-old Zambian international is the young, developing talent Celtic look for.

More importantly, he has performed well in head-to-head matches against Celtic in the Premiership this season. Chaiwa has made 19 league appearances, playing 1,134 minutes and recording one goal from 12 shots across 15 starts. Since Hibs signed him from Young Boys for around £0.8 million last August, Celtic could secure a relatively cheap deal for a player who already knows the league.

“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.”

Would Chaiwa Actually Fix What Celtic Have Broken This Season?

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Miguel Chaiwa of Hibernian battles with Claudio Braga of Hearts during the William Hill Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian at Tynecastle Park on February 10, 2026 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Celtic’s recruitment logic looks good on paper. They want to sign a young, league-proven player at a low price and coach him up. But that same strategy has silently let the club down this year. Celtic have struggled with inconsistency and a mid-season managerial change just to stay in a title race they really should be leading comfortably. To be honest, as impressive as Chaiwa has been for Hibs, he is a secondary signing that doesn’t fix Celtic’s main problems.

They need leaders, not projects. They need proven winners who improve the starting eleven immediately, not players who are still learning the game. With Celtic still having to travel to Easter Road in the post-split fixtures, Hibernian could dent the Hoops’ ambitions on the pitch in May before a potential battle in the transfer market. Signing Chaiwa wouldn’t be a statement of intent; it would be another safe, small step from a club that need much bolder ideas if they want to take the title back in 2026-27.