Thomas Brolin has delivered a verdict that Celtic supporters should welcome. The Swedish legend believes Benjamin Nygren is exactly where he needs to be, and the evidence suggests he is right.
After a debut season that produced 16 goals and five assists, Celtic have no football reason to entertain transfer talk for Nygren at this stage.
And after Nygren’s Sweden performance in the 5-1 win over Tunisia at the World Cup, Brolin nails exactly why the midfielder should remain at Celtic for the foreseeable future.
Should Benjamin Nygren have been nominated for PFA Player of the Year?
Thomas Brolin’s Celtic verdict carries weight
Speaking to Hajper, Brolin said: “What is best for Benjamin Nygren? I have no idea. He has had a fantastic development curve at Celtic and it is probably fantastic to stay there and continue that development curve until the next step when he is ready.
“Whether that is this year or next year or whatever, I actually don’t know. But, his curve has been very positive, so then it can be good to stay in the same place for a while longer too.”
It is difficult to argue with that assessment. Nygren arrived at Celtic only last summer and has already established himself as one of the club’s most important attacking players.
His recent World Cup display for Sweden only reinforced the impression that his stock is continuing to rise.
Benjamin Nygren’s Celtic numbers show a player still improving
Nygren finished his debut campaign with 16 goals and five assists. He also outperformed his expected goals figure of 13.17, underlining the quality he showed in front of goal throughout the season.
His influence extended well beyond scoring. The Swede created 58 chances, registered 137 touches in the opposition box and won possession 29 times in the final third. Those are the numbers of a player impacting matches in several different ways.
Nygren also recorded 1,049 successful passes at an accuracy rate of 82.7% while contributing 120 recoveries across the campaign. The statistics paint the picture of a player whose game continues to develop.
Celtic have more to gain from patience than a sale
Transfer speculation is inevitable when a player performs at Nygren’s level, but there is currently no confirmed deal or accepted bid on the table.
More importantly, Nygren remains under a long-term contract and is still improving. Celtic are under no pressure to sell and have every reason to allow him another season to build on what has already been an impressive start to life in Glasgow.
Brolin’s comments highlight exactly why patience makes sense. The former Sweden international sees a player on an upward trajectory, not one who has reached his ceiling.
Brolin’s Celtic message should end the exit discussion
Brolin’s verdict is not based on sentiment. It is backed up by what Nygren has achieved during his first year at the club.
The attacker is scoring goals, creating chances and becoming a more complete footballer. His first season numbers suggest there is still more to come.
Celtic’s best move is the obvious one. Keep Nygren where he is, let his development continue and worry about the next step when the time is actually right.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
