Will Celtic be crowned champions of Scotland again as soon as this weekend?
Following their 5-1 demolition of Kilmarnock, the Hoops are 15 points clear of fierce rivals Rangers with only five matches to go, and boasting a goal difference that is just the 42 superior.
So, even a draw against Dundee United on Saturday will secure a 13th Scottish Premiership title in just 14 seasons, rubber-stamping the title at Tannadice, just as they did in 2008 under Gordon Strachan as well as three years ago when Ange Postecoglou was in charge.
So now, as attention turns towards the summer plans, with a crucial Champions League play-off in August looming large, could Celtic save themselves a few quid in the transfer market by giving a young star, impressing out on loan, an opportunity?
Celtic's interest in Million Manhoef
As previously reported this month, Celtic are ‘eyeing’ a move for Stoke City winger Million Manhoef.
The 23-year-old Dutch U21 international joined the Potters from Vitesse Arnhem in January 2024 for a reported fee of £3m, scoring 11 goals and registering five assists in 51 appearances for the EFL Championship club to date.
His performances have earned rave reviews, including from Dean Jones, who told Give Me Sport that Manhoef is “the sort of player that will get fans off their seats”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him both “quality and versatile”.
As a result, journalist Graeme Bailey believes Manhoef is valued at £10m by Stoke, which would make him one of Celtic’s most-expensive signings of all-time, so could the Scottish champions save their money by reintegrating a youngster currently impressing out on loan on the other side of the world?
Celtic's forgotten sensation out on loan
Back in June 2023, Celtic signed a 21-year-old by the name of Marco Tilio from Melbourne City for a reported fee of £1.5m.
This was, at the time, a record outgoing transfer fee for an A-League player, with Beth Limb of Total Football Analysis believing Celtic had secured a great deal for such a talented player.
Well, so far, this has not transpired, with Tilio making just two appearances in hoops to date, making his debut during a one-minute cameo against Motherwell in November 2023, before seeing 27 minutes off the bench against Hibernian 11 days later.
Instead, he has been loaned back to Melbourne City, for whom he’s now made 102 appearances, really starting to rediscover his best form this season after a long spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.
So far this year, the Australian international has scored four A-League goals, actually making him the Sky Blues’ joint-top scorer, with this season-by-season breakdown outlining his career so far.
2024/25
14
1,002
4
3
2023/24
7
287
1
Zero
2022/23
29
2,092
10
6
2021/22
32
2,016
8
8
2020/21
22
1,139
2
5
2019/20
5
31
1
1
As the table shows, Tilio has started to somewhat show the form that convinced Celtic to sign him in the first place.
He was a “prolific goalscorer” during his first spell at Melbourne City, as per one source, form he has begun to rediscover, with Liam Bryce of the Herald believing that he certainly has the talent to ‘flourish’ in Glasgow, while Emma Kemp of the Guardian outlines that Tilio is always capable of producing a ‘moment of magic’.
So, given Tilio’s undeniable talent, he should certainly be given an opportunity at Celtic, suggesting they don’t need to go into the market and spend big on a new winger.
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