Seven Celtic transfer in and out contenders including Birmingham City star and player returning to Hoops

Celtic are heading into the January transfer window and movement in and out of Parkhead is likely.

Wilfried Nancy’s start to life as head coach came under immediate fire after four straight losses but a 3-1 win against Aberdeen has brought a level of calm pre-Christmas. They wrap up for 2025 with away matches in the Premiership against Livingston and Motherwell before a derby with Rangers and the January sales opening up.

There are several areas of need to accommodate Nancy’s three at the back formation but that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of exits on the horizon too. Here are seven candidates from those who could be in and out of Celtic, from a signing off Birmingham City and a returning player.

Hayato Inamura (OUTGOING)

The Japanese defender arrived in the summer and looked impressive in pre-season, but chances under Brendan Rodgers, Martin O’Neill and now Nancy have been slim. Has featured for the ‘B’ team this term and despite being on a long-term contract, does not look like having a future at the Hoops. A loan might not be out the question.

Evan Ferguson (INCOMING)

Has been touted as a player Celtic are monitoring and the club got a first hand look at him as he netted twice in a Europa League win for Roma over the Hoops this month. Overall though, the man at Brighton has struggled in his loan to Serie A, having previously found the going tough at West Ham United. There’s chatter of his Roma loan being terminated and Celtic could pounce with a striker something Nancy’s side are crying out for.

Callum McGregor (OUTGOING)

A departure mid-season seems unthinkable but rumours have suggested Rodgers wants to bring the influential skipper with him to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qadsiah. Club hero Peter Grant said on Go Radio: ”He has done fantastic, and the bottom line is you get to a stage when you are a player that you make the decision. They will make the decision and say ‘I want to do this, I want to do that’.

“If you get offered a crazy, amount of money…. I’m not saying that’s the thing that would turn it for him but if that was the case and Callum was thinking about it, I think he would prefer to wait until the summer time if it was going to happen. I think that is the sort of kid he would be. He would want to win the title again with Celtic. This is the first time in a long time there has been a wee bit of adversity, there are question marks about the league and the new manager coming in, is he enjoying it? All these things get asked, especially when you are not winning games.”

Issa Doumbia (INCOMING)

As one midfielder possibly goes out, one may arrive, as Italy U21 international Issa Doumbia is a player linked with signing for Celtic. Reports in Italy have suggested the man who features for Venezia in Serie B has been watched live by the Hoops recently, and Belgium's Club Brugge and Espanyol of Spain have also had a look.

Daizen Maeda (OUTGOING)

One that could rumble on. Maeda wanted a summer exit but it was denied and January presents another chance to move, however, Nancy sees the key forward as an influential cog. He said: “He’s really happy here. I knew that he had the opportunity to leave before but for the moment, he’s with us and he’s happy to be here.”

Kyogo (INCOMING)

It’s all gone wrong for Birmingham City striker Kyogo since leaving Celtic in January 2025. His move to France’s Rennes ended after half a season and he’s yet to net in the Championship for Birmingham City, with rumours sparking of a possible Celtic reunion already. Some club and player partnerships are just meant to be, are Kyogo and the Hoops in that bracket?

Stephen Welsh (RETURNING)

It can be argued that Celtic’s best performing defender in the Premiership this term is playing for a rival. Motherwell are sitting third over Christmas and have been lauded for a possession-heavy style of play, with Celtic loanee Welsh paramount to it in central defence. He has been a consistent force at the back for Jens Berthel Askou’s team that sits on a run of six consecutive clean sheets. Now Nancy has moved to a back three, it may offer a chance for Welsh to get back into the Celtic fold, should the new gaffer be impressed by his displays at Fir Park.