£8m Twist’s departure leaves Celtic facing a major setback as the 24-year-old chooses to transfer; is this a blow for The Hoops?

Celtic’s pursuit of Haissem Hassan appears to have suffered a significant setback, with fresh reports indicating the winger is now leaning towards a move to Marseille rather than Parkhead.

The Scottish champions had been heavily linked with the 24-year-old in recent weeks as they searched for reinforcements out wide, but developments in France suggest the Ligue 1 club have moved into pole position. While a transfer has not yet been completed, Marseille’s progress in negotiations has left Celtic facing the possibility of missing out on one of their priority targets before the transfer window closes.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – MARCH 31: Haissem Hassan of Egypt looks on during an international friendly match between Spain and Egypt at RCDE Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

With Martin O’Neill still eager to strengthen his attacking options, the latest twist represents another challenge in what has already been a demanding summer recruitment campaign.

Marseille Take Control of the Race

According to recent reports, Marseille have reached an agreement on personal terms with Hassan after holding discussions with the player over several weeks.

Although the French side still need to reduce the size of their squad and generate additional funds before finalising a deal, they now appear to have established themselves as favourites for his signature.

That marks a notable shift in the transfer saga. Earlier in the summer, Celtic were considered to be in a promising position to land the Egypt international, but the balance has now swung firmly in Marseille’s favour.

Unless financial complications prevent the Ligue 1 club from completing the transfer, Celtic could soon see one of their leading transfer objectives slip away.

Celtic Left Hoping for Late Twist

The current situation leaves Celtic with very little influence over how the transfer develops.

Rather than driving negotiations, the Scottish champions are now relying on circumstances beyond their control. If Marseille successfully clear space within their squad and complete the financial work required, Hassan’s move to southern France could become a straightforward conclusion.

That uncertainty places additional pressure on Celtic’s recruitment team, who may soon need to accelerate plans for alternative targets if it becomes obvious that Hassan’s future lies elsewhere.

Waiting too long could leave the club scrambling for replacements during the closing stages of the transfer window.

OVIEDO, SPAIN – OCTOBER 17: Haissem Hassan of Real Oviedo during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona at Carlos Tartiere on October 17, 2025 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Solid Season in La Liga Attracted Interest

Hassan arrives on the back of a respectable campaign with Real Oviedo in Spain’s top flight during the 2025/26 season.

The winger featured in 37 La Liga matches, earning 20 starts while accumulating almost 2,000 minutes of league football. Although his attacking numbers were modest, he still contributed three assists while maintaining an impressive passing accuracy of 82 percent.

His ability to beat defenders remained one of his standout qualities throughout the campaign, completing 26 successful dribbles across the season.

Those performances have ensured that multiple clubs continue monitoring his situation despite the relatively low goal contributions.

His overall displays suggested a player capable of influencing matches through ball progression and creativity, even if the final statistics did not always reflect his impact.

Why Celtic Were Interested

It is easy to understand why Hassan appealed to Celtic’s recruitment staff.

Replacing Nicolas Kühn was already viewed as a difficult assignment, but Daizen Maeda’s departure to Ipswich Town has only increased the urgency for another natural wide player.

Celtic require someone capable of stretching opposition defences, carrying possession over long distances and creating one-on-one opportunities against full-backs.

Hassan possesses many of those characteristics.

His willingness to attack defenders directly, accelerate into open space and drive forward with the ball makes him an exciting option for teams that rely on quick transitions and aggressive wing play.

Those strengths appeared perfectly suited to the style Celtic hope to implement under Martin O’Neill.

World Cup Performances Enhanced His Reputation

Hassan’s reputation also grew during the 2026 World Cup.

Representing Egypt, he played an important role as the national team progressed to the Round of 16, producing several encouraging performances against elite opposition.

One of his standout moments came when he registered an assist against Argentina, demonstrating both composure and creativity on one of football’s biggest stages.

Performances like those naturally attracted attention from clubs across Europe and strengthened his standing heading into the current transfer window.

For Celtic, signing a player who had proven himself internationally would have represented an exciting addition to their attacking options.

Questions Still Surround Final Product

Despite his obvious technical qualities, there remain understandable concerns regarding Hassan’s overall production in the final third.

Failing to score a single league goal throughout the 2025/26 La Liga campaign raises legitimate questions for clubs considering an investment reportedly worth around £8 million.

Three assists from 37 appearances also suggest there is room for improvement when it comes to delivering decisive contributions.

His dribbling ability consistently creates excitement, but too often promising attacks fail to produce goals because of decision-making or execution inside the penalty area.

While his natural talent is difficult to dispute, clubs must decide whether his strengths outweigh the relatively modest attacking returns.

Saudi Arabia Rejection Shows Preferred Destination

Recent reports have also suggested Hassan previously rejected an offer worth around £10 million from Saudi Arabia before agreeing personal terms with Marseille.

That decision appears to underline his desire to continue playing at the highest level in European football rather than accepting a lucrative move elsewhere.

It also strengthens the belief that Marseille is currently his preferred destination.

If that remains the case, Celtic may find it extremely difficult to persuade the winger to reconsider his options regardless of any future negotiations between the clubs.

Celtic May Need to Focus Elsewhere

Should Marseille eventually complete the signing, Celtic would be wise to move quickly towards alternative targets rather than becoming involved in a prolonged transfer battle.

Allowing valuable time to pass while waiting for circumstances to change could prove costly as the transfer deadline approaches.

Several other names have already been linked with the Scottish champions, including Mika Baur and Gvidas Gineitis, while other wide attackers may also emerge before the window closes.

Given the urgent need to strengthen the flanks following recent departures, identifying a winger with stronger goal and assist numbers may ultimately represent the smarter strategy.

Although Hassan remains an exciting talent with considerable potential, Celtic cannot afford to allow one transfer pursuit to dominate the remainder of their summer business if Marseille continue moving closer to securing his signature.