Celtic’s main priorities for the January transfer window are open secrets.
Martin O’Neill has said that it is ‘fairly obvious’ where he is looking to strengthen in the winter window.
It seems that a new striker is being linked every day, with Franko Kovacevic and David Datro Fofana in today’s rumour mill.
But with Kasper Schmeichel’s contract expiring at the end of the season, the club will need to keep an eye on the goalkeeping position in the long-term.
It may be difficult, to be fair, with a recruitment team made up of O’Neill and Shaun Maloney…
How much would you pay for Franko Kovacevic?
Celtic-linked Stefan Ortega ‘in contact’ with Serie A club
Stefan Ortega has been linked with Celtic since late 2025, when reports said that the Hoops were preparing a move in January.
The German goalkeeper is out of favour at Manchester City after their summer signings of Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford.
READ MORE: Andrej Ilic to Celtic links directly addressed by ‘sources close’ to Union Berlin striker
Ortega’s contract expires at the end of the season, so he is available on a free transfer to clubs outside of England who are willing to wait until then.
Celtic would fit that bill – but they could miss out this month, with Calciomercato reporting that Genoa are ‘strongly targeting’ a move for Ortega.
In need of a goalkeeper, they had been in talks with Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento, also pursued by West Ham – but the Saudi club are reportedly blocking the transfer.
And now, the Italian side – bankrolled by Romanian businessman Dan Șucu – have turned their attention to the 33-year-old.
Ortega earned a call-up to the German national side in 2024 with his form for City; he has made over 50 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.
He had previously played for boyhood club Arminia Bielefeld in the top two tiers of Germany.
Would you sign a goalkeeper for Celtic in January?
Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel
Replacing Schmeichel doesn’t seem to be at the top of O’Neill’s priorities, however – last week, he gave the Dane his full backing.
He said: “Kasper’s got a lot of experience, I think a really, really terrific goalkeeper.
“Like everything else, you have to keep proving yourself. And this is it, I now, back again, have to do the same thing. And it’s not a throwaway line, it’s absolutely true.
“And this idea that people don’t have to, I don’t see it. So, if I can get, let’s say in terms of just getting Kasper back to what he did for me, and that’s very, very short term, that would be fine.
“He made some big saves for us, big moments, you know. We had a big save against Rangers in the semi-final, he made a big save at one each-out in Feyenoord. Big save when the boy’s through, makes the save again. Those are the things he’s good at.
“I think just getting players back to – that sounds as if it’s been a major change – but really just what he did during my time.”
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