Celtic could be set for a busy end to the summer transfer window as Martin O’Neill looks to strengthen his squad following their painful Champions League exit.
The Hoops appeared to have one foot in the league phase during the week after building up a commanding four-goal aggregate advantage against LASK, only for the Austrian side to produce a remarkable comeback.
Celtic eventually lost 5-1 after extra-time in the second leg and were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate, dropping into the Europa League instead.
That disappointment has only increased the pressure on the Scottish champions to make further additions before the transfer window closes, with O’Neill seemingly keen to strengthen a number of areas.
A new midfielder is among those priorities following Arne Engels’ departure to West Ham, and now, Celtic appear to be closing in on a promising addition.
Celtic closing in on Joel van den Berg
Celtic have been linked with a move for PSV Eindhoven youngster Joel van den Berg in recent days, with the 19-year-old emerging as a potential late addition at Parkhead.
The midfielder came through the ranks in Eindhoven and made five first-team appearances for PSV during the 2025/26 campaign, having also impressed for their reserve side.
There has now been a significant update on Celtic’s pursuit. According to VoetbalPrimeur, citing Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV are closing in on an agreement to sell Van den Berg to Celtic for around €4m (£3.5m).
Celtic are said to be prepared to meet that asking price, with the Dutch champions seemingly willing to sanction his departure for that figure. Van den Berg himself is also keen on making the switch to Glasgow, with opportunities for regular first-team football difficult to come by with PSV.
Despite being just 19 years of age, Van den Berg has already earned plenty of praise in the Netherlands.
PSV reporter Tim Reedijk previously described the midfielder as a “powerhouse“, while also identifying him as a box-to-box player capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch.
|
Van den Berg stats by position |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Central midfield |
36 |
10 |
6 |
|
Attacking midfield |
24 |
5 |
1 |
|
Defensive midfield |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
Centre-forward |
4 |
0 |
0 |
That description should certainly excite Celtic supporters. Standing at around 6ft 2, Van den Berg possesses the physical profile to provide O’Neill with another imposing presence in midfield, but he is far more than simply a ball-winner.
His goalscoring record at youth level also indicates that he is capable of getting forward and contributing in the final third. Van den Berg registered seven goals and four assists in 26 league appearances for Jong PSV last season and has begun the new campaign in impressive fashion, scoring twice in his opening three matches.
Overall, paying around €4m for a highly-rated teenager who has already broken into PSV’s senior side could ultimately prove to be a clever piece of business from the Hoops, making this one to watch.
