The bid is still pending, but the exciting Celtic target now “wants to move to Glasgow,” showing shades of Van Dijk.

Celtic may have been handed an encouraging boost in their pursuit of one of their reported transfer targets, with the young player said to be keen on a move to Glasgow.

The Scottish champions returned to domestic Premiership action on Saturday, but the disappointment of their Champions League elimination remains difficult to ignore. Celtic’s collapse against LASK in midweek has created plenty of discussion around the squad and whether Martin O’Neill’s side have enough strength in depth to compete successfully on several fronts.

The manner of the European exit was particularly damaging. Celtic had established a commanding advantage but were unable to protect it, raising serious questions about the team’s defensive depth and overall squad construction.

With the transfer deadline approaching next week, the result could potentially influence Celtic’s final recruitment decisions. However, it would be dangerous for the club to allow one poor result to dictate every transfer decision.

At the same time, the defeat may have exposed areas that genuinely require attention before the window closes.

Celtic Need More Depth at Centre-Back

One of the clearest concerns is the centre-back position.

Cameron Carter-Vickers remains a hugely important player for Celtic, but his fitness record means relying exclusively on him would represent a considerable gamble.

Dane Murray is currently among the reserve options at right centre-back, but placing too much responsibility on the 23-year-old could leave O’Neill’s squad vulnerable if injuries strike.

Carter-Vickers remains highly regarded. Ange Postecoglou previously described the United States international as the “best defender in Scotland” when the defender is performing at his highest level.

He can also be viewed as one of Celtic’s finest centre-backs since Virgil van Dijk left the club.

Could Celtic Find Another Van Dijk?

Celtic’s history of recruiting young Dutch talent provides an interesting comparison when considering their reported interest in Joel van den Berg.

Back in 2013, Celtic signed a relatively young Virgil van Dijk from Groningen. Although he was only 21 at the time, there was already a belief within the club that his quality would eventually attract the attention of bigger sides.

That prediction proved remarkably accurate.

Standing at around 6ft 4in, Van Dijk quickly demonstrated that he possessed qualities well beyond the level expected of a young defender. His physical presence, composure and ability to influence matches in both penalty areas made him stand out almost immediately.

While Van den Berg plays in a completely different position, Celtic could potentially hope that he develops in a similarly spectacular fashion.

The attacking midfielder is reportedly one of the club’s leading targets, and his potential arrival could represent an investment in the future.

LASK Exposes Celtic’s Defensive Concerns

The Champions League defeat should serve as a warning for Celtic, particularly regarding the depth available in central defence.

There is little reason to rush Carter-Vickers back to full fitness, especially following his lengthy absence last season. Nevertheless, the LASK matches highlighted several issues that O’Neill cannot simply overlook.

During the opening leg, Carter-Vickers was caught out during LASK’s early pressure, although the Celtic defender was fortunate that the assistant referee’s flag prevented the situation from becoming more serious.

The way LASK repeatedly managed to exploit space behind the defender was concerning.

The second leg brought another worry when Carter-Vickers was forced to leave the field after appearing to suffer a fitness issue.

Celtic subsequently struggled physically as the Austrian side increased the intensity and pushed forward.

Across the two matches, Carter-Vickers completed 90 minutes on each occasion. He recorded 91 touches in the first meeting and 54 in the second, while his passing accuracy stood at 94 per cent and 97 per cent respectively.

He lost possession five times in the first match and twice in the return fixture.

He won five of seven aerial duels in the opening encounter and three of four in the second. His defensive numbers included two interceptions in the first game and one tackle in the return, while he was not dribbled past in either fixture.

The statistics show that Carter-Vickers was not necessarily poor overall, but the physical concerns and moments of vulnerability reinforce the need for greater depth.

Current Alternatives Are Not Ideal

O’Neill previously managed to operate with a centre-back pairing of Auston Trusty and Liam Scales for large portions of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, both players have limitations, and the fact that they are both naturally left-footed creates another complication when selecting a balanced defensive partnership.

Scales also currently provides cover for Kieran Tierney at left-back, potentially reducing the number of dependable options available centrally.

That leaves Murray as another senior alternative.

The 23-year-old’s reputation has been affected by difficult performances in the past, including a disappointing showing against Hearts in October and a difficult first-half spell at Ibrox in March.

Consequently, Celtic may feel that adding another defensive option—or strengthening elsewhere to improve the squad balance—is necessary.

Van den Berg Wants Celtic Move

There is reportedly positive news regarding Van den Berg’s potential transfer.

According to Dutch publication Voetbal International, the 19-year-old playmaker “wants to go to Glasgow” and views Celtic as an ideal destination for the next stage of his development.

Celtic still need to submit a formal offer if they are to complete the transfer, but the player’s apparent willingness to move should make negotiations considerably easier.

The club will nevertheless need to act quickly if they are convinced that the teenager is the right addition.

Why Van den Berg Is Exciting

Van den Berg does not arrive without risk.

The teenager has made only five league appearances for PSV Eindhoven’s senior side, meaning Celtic would be signing a player with limited first-team experience at the highest level.

However, his performances for Jong PSV provide plenty of reasons for optimism.

The midfielder spent significant periods playing in the Eerste Divisie, the Dutch second tier, and enjoyed an especially productive 2025/26 campaign.

Operating primarily as a creative midfielder, he contributed ten goals and assists during the season.

He also averaged 1.5 key passes and 1.2 successful dribbles per match, demonstrating his ability to create opportunities and take opponents on.

Strong Start to the New Season

Van den Berg has already shown encouraging form at the beginning of the current campaign.

He has scored twice in his opening three appearances while averaging 2.3 key passes per game.

Those figures suggest that his creative influence is continuing to develop and that he could potentially become an important attacking player with the right coaching and environment.

Interestingly, his contribution is not limited to what he does with the ball.

During the previous campaign, Van den Berg averaged 2.5 combined tackles and interceptions per game, while also recovering possession approximately five times per match.

That combination of creativity and defensive work could make him particularly attractive to Celtic.

Celtic Could Be Investing in a Future Star

Comparisons with Van Dijk should naturally be treated cautiously. The two players operate in different positions, and Van den Berg still has considerable development ahead of him.

Nevertheless, Celtic have previously demonstrated their ability to identify young Dutch talent before it becomes widely recognised.

If Van den Berg can continue developing at his current rate, the move to Glasgow could provide him with an ideal platform.

His desire to join Celtic is reportedly already there, meaning the next step is for the Scottish champions to decide whether to make an offer.

After the painful LASK experience, O’Neill and Celtic’s recruitment team have been given a reminder that the squad still requires improvement.

Signing Van den Berg would not immediately solve every defensive concern, but securing a talented young player with such promising attacking and defensive numbers could prove to be an excellent long-term investment.

For Celtic, the opportunity to sign another exciting Dutch prospect could ultimately become one of the most intriguing moves of the transfer window.