Celtic simply have to get things right in the transfer market this summer.
Any repeat of recent transfer windows will result in further protests from Celtic supporters, who came together to push the team over the line for the hectic, dramatic and title-defining post-split fixtures.
Martin O’Neill played a key part in that, and now he is expected to stay on board for the 2026/27 campaign.
Bearing that in mind, Tony Watt has told Celtic to put money on the table and sign Hearts forward, Cláudio Braga, this summer, as he told Clyde 1.
“I would be going to Hearts and putting a bid on the table for Braga,” said Watt. “He showed after his first season what he can do in this country.”
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Why Celtic should sign Claudio Braga from Hearts
Before a ball was kicked during the recent campaign, a lot was made about Hearts’ Jamestown analytics system, led by Brighton owner Tony Bloom, and how their data system plucks out the best players from parts of the world others might not look.
Hearts signed Braga from Norway’s second tier last summer, and he produced a stellar campaign at Tynecastle, despite Derek McInnes’ men being pipped to the title by Celtic.
But Watt explained that the champions of Scotland can’t afford to sign too many players this summer who need time to bed in, that’s why players like Braga need to be signed, because he now understands what the Scottish game is all about.
“I would be going to Hearts and putting a bid on the table for Braga,” said Watt. “He showed after his first season what he can do in this country.
“The only thing is that Hearts are in a position where they don’t need the money, so Celtic can’t go and overpower them.
“Rangers, of course, got lucky with a clause in the Shankland deal, which, again, is a fantastic signing. He will be Scotland’s number nine at the World Cup.
“But I think Celtic should be going and buying the best players in the league. Whether that’s Maswanhise, Braga, Elliot Watt or Elijah Just.
“They need to be going for these guys over Mvuka, Adamu and Balikwisha, because of experience in Scotland, knowing the tempo of the game and how physical it can be. How much quality there is, even though it gets spoken down on, is key and Celtic can’t afford for people needing two, three or four months to adapt.
“They can do one or two, but they can’t have four or five signings taking three or four months to get up to speed.”
Braga’s debut campaign at Hearts in numbers
You have to be truly exceptional to win Scotland’s PFA Player of the Season, and even better if you are somebody competing outside of Glasgow.
That was the case with Braga, who claimed this season’s award, but he was left on the bench by McInnes for Hearts’ title decider at Celtic on the final day of the campaign.
Despite that, Braga bagged 14 goals in Edinburgh and earned himself a rating of 6.63 by Sofascore for his 2025/26 Premiership campaign:
- Games: 38
- Starts: 34
- Goals: 14
- Assists: 3
- Minutes per goal: 204
- Big chances missed: 14
- Team of the week: 2
- Sofascore rating: 6.63
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