A deal is close, with Celtic chiefs now prepared to pay the necessary fee to sign a new powerhouse for O’Neill.

Celtic could be heading towards an extremely busy conclusion to the summer transfer window, with Martin O’Neill seemingly determined to strengthen his squad after the club’s painful Champions League disappointment.

The Scottish champions looked to be on course for a place in the league phase of Europe’s premier competition after building an impressive four-goal advantage over LASK across the tie. However, what appeared to be a comfortable position quickly disappeared during an extraordinary second-leg collapse in Austria.

Celtic eventually suffered a 5-1 defeat after extra-time, meaning LASK completed a stunning comeback to win the tie 5-4 on aggregate. The result sent Celtic into the Europa League instead and left O’Neill with several areas of his squad to consider before the transfer window closes.

The setback has increased the urgency around Celtic’s recruitment plans, with the manager seemingly keen to add quality in several positions.

One of the areas requiring attention is midfield, particularly following the departure of Arne Engels to West Ham United.

Celtic now appear to be making progress towards bringing in a young replacement, with a promising PSV Eindhoven midfielder reportedly edging closer to a move to Glasgow.

Celtic Step Up Pursuit of Joel van den Berg

Joel van den Berg has emerged as one of the names attracting significant attention from Celtic in the final stages of the transfer window.

The 19-year-old has developed through PSV Eindhoven’s youth system and has already made his senior debut for the Dutch giants.

During the 2025/26 campaign, Van den Berg made five appearances for PSV’s first team. Although those opportunities were limited, his performances for the club’s reserve side demonstrated why he is considered a player with considerable potential.

Celtic’s interest now appears to have progressed beyond the initial stage of simply monitoring the midfielder.

According to VoetbalPrimeur, citing Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV are reportedly approaching an agreement to sell Van den Berg to Celtic for a fee in the region of €4 million, which is approximately £3.5 million.

The Scottish club are understood to be willing to meet that valuation, while PSV appear prepared to allow the teenager to leave if the required amount is paid.

Van den Berg Wants the Move

Another factor working in Celtic’s favour is believed to be the player’s own preference.

Van den Berg is reportedly interested in moving to Glasgow, with the opportunity to play regular first-team football potentially playing a major role in his decision.

Breaking into PSV’s senior team on a consistent basis is difficult given the level of competition within the Dutch champions’ squad.

A move to Celtic could therefore provide Van den Berg with the chance to gain valuable senior experience and develop his game in a competitive environment.

For Celtic, signing a young player who is already motivated to make the switch could make negotiations considerably more straightforward.

The reported £3.5 million fee would also represent a relatively modest investment for a teenager who has already reached the first-team setup at one of the Netherlands’ biggest clubs.

Why Celtic Are Excited by Van den Berg

Despite his age, Van den Berg has already received significant praise from observers in the Netherlands.

PSV reporter Tim Reedijk previously labelled the midfielder a “powerhouse”, highlighting the physical qualities he brings to the centre of the pitch.

Reedijk has also described Van den Berg as a box-to-box midfielder who can influence matches at both ends of the field.

That profile could be particularly attractive to O’Neill.

Celtic need someone capable of adding energy and physicality to midfield, but a player who can also contribute offensively would provide even greater value.

At approximately 6ft 2in, Van den Berg has an imposing physical frame for a 19-year-old.

His size should allow him to compete effectively in challenges and provide Celtic with another strong presence in the middle of the pitch.

However, describing him simply as a defensive midfielder would not tell the full story.

Versatility Is a Major Strength

Van den Berg’s record demonstrates that he has experience operating in several different roles.

For central midfield, he has recorded 36 appearances, scoring ten goals and producing six assists.

In attacking midfield, he has made 24 appearances, scoring five times and contributing one assist.

He has also played five matches in defensive midfield, where he has one assist, while he has been used four times as a centre-forward without registering a goal or assist.

Those numbers underline the versatility that could make him useful to O’Neill.

Rather than being restricted to one specific position, Van den Berg has demonstrated an ability to operate across different areas of the midfield and even further forward.

That flexibility could be valuable over a long campaign, particularly for a Celtic team expected to compete domestically while also managing European fixtures.

Promising Numbers for Jong PSV

Van den Berg’s development with Jong PSV has been particularly encouraging.

Last season, he scored seven goals and registered four assists in 26 league appearances for the reserve side.

Those figures are impressive for a young midfielder, particularly considering that he was contributing both goals and creativity rather than simply concentrating on defensive responsibilities.

His performances appear to have continued into the new campaign.

Van den Berg has already found the net twice in his opening three matches this season, suggesting that his attacking development is continuing at an encouraging rate.

For Celtic, that ability to arrive in dangerous positions and contribute in the final third could be an important part of his appeal.

The club are not simply looking for someone to replace Engels numerically.

They need a midfielder who can provide energy, physical strength and attacking support, and Van den Berg appears to offer a combination of those qualities.

A Potential Bargain for Celtic

If Celtic complete the deal for approximately €4m, the transfer could prove to be a shrewd investment.

Van den Berg remains a teenager, meaning there is considerable scope for improvement as he gains more experience at senior level.

The biggest question will naturally be whether he can make the transition from Jong PSV and limited first-team appearances in Eindhoven to the demands of playing regularly for Celtic.

There is always an element of risk when signing such a young player, particularly when expectations are high.

However, Celtic would be acquiring someone who has already demonstrated his potential within PSV’s system and has experience playing against senior opposition.

His physical profile, versatility and attacking numbers provide further encouragement.

A Deal Worth Watching

Celtic’s Champions League disappointment has created additional urgency around the squad, but the potential arrival of Van den Berg could give O’Neill another exciting option in midfield.

The reported agreement would see the Hoops pay approximately £3.5m, while the player himself is understood to be keen on relocating to Glasgow.

For PSV, the deal would represent a respectable fee for a young player who has yet to establish himself as a regular first-team starter.

For Celtic, meanwhile, it could represent an opportunity to secure a highly-rated teenager before his value potentially increases.

Van den Berg’s combination of size, technical ability, versatility and goal involvement makes him an intriguing prospect.

He may still need time to adapt to Celtic and senior football, but the potential rewards could be significant.

With O’Neill searching for midfield reinforcements following Engels’ departure, Celtic appear prepared to make their move.

If the reports prove accurate and the £3.5m asking price is met, Van den Berg could soon become the latest young talent to arrive at Parkhead with the opportunity to develop into a major player.

For Celtic supporters, this is certainly one transfer that could be worth watching closely as the window approaches its conclusion.