Celtic Urged To Move For Two Scottish Players: What Should They Do? | OneFootball

Paul Dickov thinks Celtic should move fast. The former Scotland striker is looking at the free-agent market, and two names stand out. Angus Gunn. Ross Stewart. Both are out of contract, both are in the USA with Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad, and both represent massive value. It’s a clean slate for the pair, and football’s biggest stage is the ultimate shop window.

Celtic handed free-agent blueprint as Scotland duo eye World Cup shop window

Gunn had a tough time at Nottingham Forest. Managers changed, new keepers arrived, and he lost his spot. Yet his Scotland form never wavered. Dickov told Record Sport that Gunn handles the pressure perfectly. Kasper Schmeichel’s retirement leaves a massive void in the Celtic goal, making Gunn a logical target. Scouts are watching.

Look at Craig Gordon. His career looked done before a move to the East End revived everything. Goalkeepers need games, not just training. Gunn needs that exact reset.

Then there is Ross Stewart. The striker brings raw physicality and a proper eye for goal. He offers a completely different option upfront, and getting that sort of firepower without a transfer fee is rare. With Scotland kicking off against Haiti, the stakes are massive. For Celtic, the opportunity is right there.

He told Record Sport: “Yes, he will be. Angus’ last couple of seasons have been very unfortunate with Nottingham Forest. We all know the merry-go-round of managers who were there. A new manager comes in and wants to bring his own players in and has his own ideas. The circumstances of Angus’ move didn’t help. The one thing that can never be questioned is his performance in a Scotland shirt.

“He’s been outstanding every time he’s been called upon, even more so, considering that he’s not been playing regular first-team football. Angus will be looking to perform at the World Cup first and foremost for Scotland, for his country, and for himself.

“What better place to put yourself than Scotland? There’s going to be a lot of clubs watching, and if he can manage to have a good tournament, there won’t just be one or two clubs that will be interested. There’ll be a lot of suitors for him.

“Craig has done wonderfully well after these injury problems. It shows that getting regular first-team football, in relation to what we were talking about with Angus before, especially for a goalkeeper, is so important to get games under your belt.

“From Angus’ point of view, to have Craig alongside him, who’s been there, seen it, done it, who’s been out with injuries and been left out, leaving him having to resurrect his career. Angus has got somebody there that he can really look up to and call upon if needed.”

What should Celtic do?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 16: Martin O’Neill, Interim Manager of Celtic acknowledges the fans after winning the William Hill Premiership trophy following the team’s victory in the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on May 16, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

This is a complete no-brainer for Martin O’Neill. Replacing a character like Kasper Schmeichel is a nightmare task, but Gunn fits the profile. He is 30, hungry, and possesses a proven international pedigree. You cannot buy that kind of experience cheaply, except right now, you literally can. It costs absolutely nothing in transfer fees.

The Forest move was a mess, but that was down to club instability, not his ability. Celtic offer European football and the chance to win silverware. That is a massive draw for any player trying to rebuild their club career.

Stewart is equally intriguing. Celtic need squad depth, especially with the gruelling Champions League schedule. Kyogo is brilliant, but cannot play every single minute of every competition. Stewart provides that old-school Scottish Premiership frontline presence. He can batter defenders, hold up the ball, and snatch ugly goals in tight away matches.

Waiting until after the World Cup is a massive gamble. A couple of clean sheets from Gunn or a crucial goal from Stewart against Haiti will turn this into a frantic signing race. European clubs will come hard. Celtic have the financial muscle and the immediate vacancy. They need to get these deals boxed off before the rest of the world wakes up.