Celtic attacker Benjamin Nygren has his “heart set” on a summer transfer, and the Hoops have been urged to cash in on the Sweden international.
The 24-year-old has been a rare shining light in what has otherwise been a pretty disastrous season for Celtic. Nygren has notched a whopping 19 goals this term, 10 more than the club’s next best scorer, Yang Hyun-jun.
Accordingly, the Swede has attracted the attention of potential suitors. Links with various Premier League clubs, including Brighton and Tottenham, have emerged in recent days, and it has been suggested that he could fetch as much as €35 million (£30m).
Such a figure would shatter the club’s sale record, which is currently held by Matt O’Riley, courtesy of his €29.5m move to Brighton in 2024. As the player is still under contract until 2029, Celtic are in a strong position to demand a hefty fee.
However, the Parkhead club have been warned that Nygren could cause a potential issue this summer. Football Insider reports that the attacking midfielder already has his “heart set” on a transfer, forcing the club to consider offers regardless of whether they want to or not.
Celtic should cash in on Nygren
According to former Celtic star Frank McAvennie, the Glasgow giants should absolutely cash in on Nygren this summer if the opportunity presents itself. To him, selling the Swede is a no-brainer.
Speaking to the Daily Record about potential departures from Celtic, McAvennie acknowledged that it could be a damaging summer transfer window. Nevertheless, he would personally drive Nygren to his next club if a £30m bid were to materialise!
“If Callum [McGregor] goes and [Daizen] Maeda and [Reo] Hatate…they are big gaps to fill,” McAvennie said. “I saw reports saying Brighton wanted Nygren for £30m – well, I’ll drive him! But that’s the kind of money, if you were to get that for Nygren, then brilliant.
“I don’t know where Celtic would be without his goals. But if you’re getting that kind of money for him, then take it. As long as it gets put back into the team. But we’ve got a lot of money on players and never put it back recently, that’s the biggest problem.”
Analysis: Celtic would be better off without Nygren
Despite his impressive attacking output this season, Nygren is far from irreplaceable for Celtic. Particularly when playing in central midfield, the 24-year-old can be more of a nuisance than a blessing. According to FootballTransfers’ Celtic expert Martin Macdonald, Nygren’s goals have papered over the glaring weaknesses in his game.
“The Swede arrived in the summer of 2025, and the numbers would tell you he’s been a revelation, with 19 goals and eight assists to his name across all competitions so far,” Macdonald explained.
“However, the reality is that, although he has an undoubted ability to drift into areas to find the back of the net, he has, at points, been a cross to bear for Celtic as his aloof nature on the pitch damages the shape, especially if he plays in a three-man midfield.
🇸🇪📋 Nygren on the scoresheet again!#KILCEL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/dkuYXKGSTI
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 15, 2026
“His tendency to drift into the box – and yes, score some goals – has left Celtic open a lot of the time, and with an ageing Callum McGregor having to keep the shape almost on his own at times, this has been a contributing factor to opposition teams cutting through the midfield like butter.
“The thing about Nygren is, when he plays poorly, he’s usually one of the worst players on the pitch. In the Scottish Premiership this season, Nygren has made 24 starts for Celtic and in 11 of those has been substituted by the manager – not exactly a shining endorsement of a player who has been quoted by some to be worth £30m.
“Fans of the player would often say, ‘Where would we be without Nygren’s goals?’ That’s certainly a decent point, but one answer would be: a hell of a lot more stable in the middle of the pitch.”
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