Celtic’s latest transfer links are not random, and Michael Gannon’s recent claim makes that clear as he reveals what’s happening behind the scenes at the Parkhead club.
Zinedin Smajlovic and Oskar Wojcik have both been linked with moves, with Celtic actively involved in tracking both players. That much is already established.
The key point is not the links themselves, but why these names are appearing at the same time. That is where the wider explanation starts to matter for Celtic fans as Gannon reveals what he knows about the rumours.
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Michael Gannon claim explains Celtic transfer noise
Gannon was asked about Celtic’s link to Smajlovic and why the Parkhead club are targeting Wojcik and what he said shows what the Hoops are doing behind the scenes.
Gannon said, “Listen, there’s a certain profile of player that will be getting touted to a lot of clubs around Europe in a certain bracket and no doubt that certain emails have landed on the Rangers list as well.
“I don’t think big money moves are getting done right now until there’s a manager in the door. But Celtic have got people who are watching players and tracking talent.
“So there are guys that are getting monitored and these guys are the kind of guys that do fit their profile. But yeah, there are wheels turning .
“I mean people think this perception is that it’s a complete wasteland. There’s nobody left [inside Celtic]. There are still people doing their jobs and looking at players and identifying talent.
“They just don’t have a manager or a chairman right now or a director of football. Yeah, there’s some gaps and there’s an empty desk but there are people working in the background.”
That explanation reframes the current situation. These links are not isolated moves, they are part of a wider recruitment process built around defined player profiles.
It also explains why multiple clubs are being linked with similar players. The same data and scouting reports are circulating, and Celtic are clearly operating within that system.
The presence of these names shows activity, not indecision. The work is happening in the background and the links are a by-product of that.
Why Celtic are targeting Zinedin Smajlovic and Oskar Wojcik
Wojcik’s numbers point to a defender who is heavily involved across all phases of play:
- 156 duels won with a 58.2% success rate
- 94 aerial duels won at 61.0%
- 187 clearances and 50 interceptions
- 292 defensive contributions
- 1,262 successful passes at 86.9%
Those figures show a player comfortable defending his box while also contributing in possession. That combination fits a modern defensive profile.
Smajlovic’s data highlights a different but complementary skill set:
- 83.9% pass accuracy with 39 accurate long balls
- 76.9% dribble success rate
- 58.3% duel success rate
- 48 recoveries and 13 tackles
- 1 assist and 0.71 expected assists
That points to a defender who is more progressive with the ball and capable of advancing play. It aligns with a Celtic system that values control as well as defensive output.
Celtic are targeting players who can defend, compete physically, and contribute in possession.
The links make sense once the profile is understood, and Gannon’s explanation shows Celtic’s recruitment work is continuing in the background even before key appointments are made
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