Celtic are on the hunt for new players and while there is an expectation that money is spent, the Bhoys would always love to get value for money where they can.
Top target Mathias Kivstgaarden could cost Celtic more than £10m and interest from sides like West Ham United will make it difficult to do.
Brendan Rodgers could look to the free agent market to bring new players to Celtic Park but one area they should explore is players out of contract in 2026.
With a year left on their deals heading into next season, the Hoops could sign some talented players on the cheap and bolster their squad.
Here are five players that could fit that criteria this summer.
Martin Vitik
- Club: Sparta Prague
- Position: Centre-back
- Appearances: 155
- Goals: 3
Martin Vitik’s stature is growing rapidly at Sparta Prague as the Czechia international continues to catch the eye.
At the age of 22, Vitik has already made over 150 appearances for a team regularly challenging for the title in their division and would bring that desire to win to Glasgow.
The likes of Napoli and AC Milan have also been interested in the centre-back but at Celtic, he would be a certain starter alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Mika Marmol
- Club: Las Palmas
- Position: Centre-back
- Appearances: 69
- Goals: 0
Unlike Vitik, Mika Marmol is a bit more of a utility man and can play as a centre-back or a left-back.
Las Palmas were relegated from La Liga and top flight football is something that would appeal to the 23-year-old.
Crucially, he operates as a left-footed centre-back. Rodgers likes his defenders to play on the side of their strongest foot and with nobody else to do that now, Marmol could help on that front.
Dan James
- Club: Leeds United
- Position: Winger
- Appearances: 123
- Goals: 29
A bold option, but never say never. Dan James is returning to the Premier League with Leeds United once again and could be a first team regular again, however, the Yorkshire club’s funds will allow them to spend big.
That could see James’ role reduced and the lure of Champions League football enough to tempt anyone to move north of the border, James could fit that bill.
Like James Forrest, Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn, James is blessed with pace and would give Scottish Premiership defenders nightmares.
James is in discussions with Leeds over a new deal so it’s unlikely, but one to keep an eye on.
Mario Stroeykens
- Club: Anderlecht
- Position: Attacking midfielder
- Appearances: 132
- Goals: 16
The youngest on the list, Mario Stroeykens has spent his whole life at Anderlecht but could move on to pastures new.
The 20-year-old traditionally plays in the middle as a number 10 but can also operate in centre midfield, as he would if he were to join Celtic.
He’ll know Kasper Schmeichel from his time in Belgium and the goalkeeper could act as a good bargaining tool in order to bring him to the club.
Het Laatste Nieuws has compared Stroeykens to Youri Tielemans during his early days at Anderlecht and since then, Tielemans has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League at Aston Villa.
Jonas Wind
- Club: Wolfsburg
- Position: Striker
- Appearances: 112
- Goals: 34
The final one on the list is a position that is deemed a priority for Rodgers: A striker.
Adam Idah may have scored 20 goals but he still had days where he looked out of his depth leading the line. At Celtic, you need to have that arrogance in your mind that you belong on the big stage.
Jonas Wind has come up against Celtic before and was tipped for big things while at Copenhagen.
Wind isn’t a prolific goal scorer in the Bundesliga, but with better service and more chances in Rodgers’ side, his goal return could improve drastically.
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