Martin O’Neill responds to Callum Wilson links with Celtic

Speculation linking Callum Wilson with a potential move to Celtic has been played down by Martin O’Neill, who claims the reports came as a surprise to him.

The West Ham United striker has been widely tipped to be on the lookout for a new club during the current transfer window, with his future at the London Stadium appearing uncertain. Recent reports suggested that Celtic had made an approach to West Ham to explore the possibility of bringing the experienced forward to Glasgow, but O’Neill insists he has no concrete knowledge of any such discussions.

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Wilson, a former England international, has struggled for regular minutes this season and, at 33, is understood to be keen on securing more consistent game time. That situation has naturally fuelled rumours about a possible move away from West Ham, with Celtic among the clubs mentioned as potential suitors as they search for attacking reinforcements.

However, speaking to the media, O’Neill distanced himself from the reports and made it clear that Wilson’s name had not been part of his immediate thinking. Asked directly about the striker, the interim Celtic boss admitted the speculation was new to him.

“I can’t really tell you anything,” O’Neill said. “To be honest, it was actually news to me. We are looking for goals, of course, but that’s hardly unique to Celtic. Every team is searching for reliable goal scorers.”

While he refused to comment on Wilson specifically, O’Neill did stress that Celtic are actively working behind the scenes to strengthen their squad. He suggested that progress is being made, even if he could not offer supporters concrete names or details at this stage.

“I can’t go into specifics,” he added. “But we are making progress. I do think we’re getting closer. We’re definitely nearer now than we were.”

O’Neill also acknowledged the challenges that come with being questioned publicly about transfers while negotiations are ongoing. He admitted that while he enjoys speaking to the media, transfer-related questions can be uncomfortable due to the sensitivity of the process and the timing involved.

“I enjoy the conversations, I really do,” he said. “But I dread the transfer questions because these things don’t usually get resolved straight away. Often it’s not until later in the window, sometimes even the second or third of February.”

Despite that, the veteran manager sounded cautiously optimistic that Celtic supporters would soon see movement in the market. He indicated that the club is hopeful of bringing new players in sooner rather than later, potentially within the next week.

“I would be hoping that by some stage next week we would have people through the door,” O’Neill said, offering reassurance to fans growing impatient for signings.

Addressing Wilson’s situation more generally, O’Neill was quick to praise the striker’s quality, even while distancing Celtic from any firm interest. He described Wilson as a “very fine player” but suggested he had assumed the forward was bound for another destination.

“I hadn’t thought about that move at all,” he said. “Not because he’s not a very good player – he is – but I genuinely thought he was heading elsewhere.”

That assumption may be supported by further reports from the Scottish Sun, which claim that Wilson could be set for a move outside the UK altogether. According to the report, Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab are leading the race to sign the striker and are prepared to offer him a deal that would take him to the Middle East.

If that proves accurate, it would effectively rule out a move to Celtic and underline the competitive nature of the market for experienced forwards. Clubs from wealthier leagues and regions are often able to offer financial packages that Scottish sides struggle to match, particularly for players with Premier League pedigree.

For Celtic, the situation highlights the complexity of their search for attacking options. While the club are clearly prioritising the addition of a striker, they must balance experience, cost, availability, and long-term planning. O’Neill’s comments suggest that, while names like Wilson may be circulating in the media, Celtic’s actual targets may lie elsewhere.

As the transfer window moves into a decisive phase, clarity is expected to arrive quickly. Whether or not Wilson’s future is resolved in the coming days, Celtic fans will be watching closely for tangible progress, hopeful that the club’s pursuit of “elusive goal scorers” finally results in new arrivals before the window closes.