Celtic have a very difficult and hugely important call to make with their striker this summer.
When this season of decline, abjectness and madness is over, Celtic will begin their clearout and then search for that much-needed goalscorer.
One of the players linked to Celtic has been Tyrese Campbell, who finds himself in an interesting situation at Sheffield United, as manager Chris Wilder refuses to be ‘mugged off’ by anyone who wants to buy him for a low-ish fee this summer.
“Tyrese was outstanding last year,” said Wilder. “He’s not hit the heights at all this year.
“As always, the question will be. Do you want to be part of our new journey? And if they don’t, then we will do our best to facilitate and make things happen without getting mugged off by somebody offering or low-balling us on a price that we don’t seem to be reasonable for us.”
Campbell’s struggles on the pitch have mirrored Sheffield United’s slide toward an underwhelming mid-table finish.
With his contract winding down in 2027, the Blades face a crucial decision over his long-term future at the end of the season, and that’s where Celtic come into the picture.
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Chris Wilder addresses the future of Celtic-linked Tyrese Campbell
The problem here is that Celtic have been scarred with the strikers they have signed in recent times, so the next call is even more important and delicate.
In Campbell’s case, he isn’t exactly flying high, and going by Wilder’s comments, he might leave Sheffield United in the summer.
You would suspect that if the Yorkshire club were definitive on keeping Campbell on board, then Wilder would have made that clear, but instead, he posed the question: ‘Do you want to be part of our new journey?’
Reporter Andy Giddings: “Of the players that are maybe not under as long a contract. Maybe entering the final year, and maybe you don’t want them and see them going forward.
“Is there a circumstance where they might be then paid off to go somewhere else, as you sort of remould and rework the squad?”
Wilder: “Yeah, there will be the financial aspect of it, looking at players. We will treat everyone on its own individual basis, and merit.
“The two big ones are the obvious standouts in Tyrese (Campbell) and Gus (Harmer). Talks with their agent. Talks with the players themselves as well.
“Do they want to be part of things going forward as well? There are a lot of discussions between all of the parties from now until the end of the season – but he is still under contract as well. There is still a lot of stuff flying about.
“If the player wants to go, and there is no interest in him. He is here for the next season. It’s an obvious one that we don’t like players running down their contracts – one of the big things is that there will be players who will come to financial settlements with.”
Giddings: “Is the feedback you are getting from those two (Campbell and Harmer) positive?”
Wilder: “Yeah, we are talking to them – Tyrese was outstanding last year. He’s not hit the heights at all this year.
“If he re-signs, then great. Then it’s up to us and him to get him back to the standards he set in that season. I still think there is a player in there.
“As always, the question will be. Do you want to be part of our new journey? And if they don’t, then we will do our best to facilitate and make things happen without getting mugged off by somebody offering or low-balling us on a price that we don’t seem to be reasonable for us.”
Campbell’s numbers in the Championship compared to Adam Idah
The last time Celtic dipped into the Championship to sign a striker, his name was Adam Idah.
Despite the Irishman starting life at Celtic like a house on fire when he moved on a loan deal from Norwich City, Idah started to divide opinion before leaving permanently for Swansea City in the summer.
When you look at Campbell, his stock is slightly higher than Idah’s. But he isn’t having a great season, so you can then understand Celtic supporters being unsure about his possible arrival.
Nonetheless, this is how Campbell’s numbers in the Championship compare to those of former Hoops hitman, Idah.
- Campbell’s games: 209
- Clubs played for in the Championship: 2
- Goals: 47
- Assists: 17
- Total minutes: 11,229
- Idah’s games: 93
- Clubs played for in the Championship: 2
- Goals: 15
- Assists: 5
- Total minutes: 3,494
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