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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

5 Celtic midfield transfer options as Christopher Scott hopes fade and key replacements needed

It's all set to be an intriguing summer at Celtic Park as part two of Ange Postecoglou 's revolution gets into full swing.

Part one wasn't half bad, yielding the Premiership title and Premier Sports Cup in a domestic campaign to remember.

The test now for this promising Celtic side is to make the step back up in Europe as they prepare for the Champions League group stage.

Postecoglou is likely to look to midfield for recruits as he seeks to replace Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton following their departures at the end of the season.

It's an area Celtic remain strong in, however, so perhaps fans are more likely to see a gradual evolution of Postecoglou's engine room over an immediate revolution.

Some players have already been linked with a move to Parkhead while there are certain to be other irons in the fire, too.

Bayern Munich's Christopher Scott is one such name but the Bundesliga champions look set to trigger an extension clause in his contract before looking to move him on.

However, reports from the continent claim Scott wants to remain in Germany.

Here's a look at five other potential options for Celtic.

Connor Barron

Barron has reportedly already been scouted while on Scotland U-21 duty in midweek, where he turned in another impressive performance against a highly-rated Belgium side.

The 19-year-old was a breakout star in an otherwise dismal season for Aberdeen and looks certain to attract mounting interest next season.

Connor Barron in action for Aberdeen (SNS Group)

He perhaps wouldn't come ready for made for the Celtic first team week in, week out but would certainly add talent in a deeper midfield role following Bitton's departure.

Ismaila Soro and James McCarthy look to be well out of Postecoglou's plans, so Barron could further supplement Callum McGregor and Yosuke Ideguchi.

Mohammad Abu Fani

The Maccabi Haifa midfielder is another Celtic have eyes on this summer.

The Premiership champions will scout the 24-year-old during Israel's Nations League clashes in June - but they won't be the only ones.

Israel's Mohammad Abu Fani during the Nations League clash with Iceland (REUTERS)

Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt plus Belgian duo Royal Antwerp and Standard Liege are also in the mix.

Fani is a combative box-to-box midfielder and a player whose star seems very much on the rise.

Suzuki Yuito

Given the success of last season's J-League transfer ventures, it would be foolish to rule out Postecoglou dipping back into that market.

The 20-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse attacking midfielder has been tipped to become the latest Japanese export to make the jump to Europe.

Suzuki Yuito (Getty Images)

Yuito was called into the senior Japan squad to replace Reo Hatate earlier this season and has been a regular in the U-23 setup.

With less senior experience than the likes of Kyogo and Maeda, he'd be a slightly riskier option but his undoubted potential as a creative force could make Yuito worth the punt.

Daiki Matsuoka

Another J-League option, Matuoka also turns out for Shimizu S-Pulse.

The 21-year-old has a hint of the versatility that was noted with Hatate prior to his arrival and is able to play deeper in midfield or even at right-back.

Daiki Matsuoka (Getty Images)

He too was called into the senior Japan squad when Hatate and Daizen Maeda dropped out back in January and has a reputation as a reliable presence in the middle of the park and an efficiency in keeping possession.

Hugo Vetlesen

If the name Vetlesen doesn't ring a bell for Celtic fans, it should.

The young Norwegian was a standout when Bodo/Glimt took Postecoglou's side to the cleaners in the Europa Conference League last season.

Hugo Vetlesen celebrates (Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

The 20-year-old formed part of a dynamic and intelligent midfield that had all the hallmarks of how the Celtic manager wants his team to play and would add quality to replace Rogic's influence.

Vetlesen carries a goal threat, has an eye for a pass, can press aggressively and is tactically and positionally intelligent.

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