Ask Celtic fans about Scott Brown this summer and most will tell you that he had his best season yet in a Hoops shirt, despite being at the club for ten years now.
Bringing his game to new heights under Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic and Scotland captain won the Scottish Premiership Player Of The Year Award and guided his side to not only a treble winning season but also an unbeaten one domestically.
Added to that his form in Europe was outstanding. There’s an argument to say he was Celtic’s best player there too, even considering the goalscoring exploits of Moussa Dembele.
Even though Callum McGregor and Stuart Armstrong have emerged into fantastic players in Glasgow, signing an elite midfielder still feels like it should be one of Rodgers’ priorities this summer.
They need a player ready to come in and add a touch of class to the central areas, a playmaker who can give them an edge in Europe, matching the defensive ability of Brown.
Here are three midfielders we reckon could be a hit at Celtic…
Marco van Ginkel
Having fought back from a knee injury that threatened his career, Marco van Ginkel is going from strength to strength in recent years, starring for PSV Eindhoven on loan from Chelsea both this season and last.
Spending the second half of this season again in the Netherlands, his latest spell there was an enormous success, scoring an incredible seven goals in 15 appearances, also contributing three assists.
His ability to drive forward with the ball from central midfield would be a real asset to the Hoops, potentially providing a spark that could bring them to the next level in the UEFA Champions League.
Although he signed a new contract at Chelsea last year, it’s highly unlikely he would make it into the plans of Antonio Conte’s English Premier League winners next season and another loan move could be the final step in his quest to make it at Stamford Bridge.
He needs a move to a team who will be playing UEFA Champions League football next season and Celtic provide that option. Just look at the way Patrick Roberts has come on this season, he’s now a real asset to Manchester City and the Hoops could do the same job for van Ginkel and his parent club.
Will Hughes
With close to 200 professional appearances to his name with Derby County at the age of just 22, Will Hughes continues to be one of the brighter prospects in the English Championship despite never quite winning his big club move away from Pride Park.
He has fantastic ability in possession of the ball, rarely giving it away and able to find his teammates with precision and intent into the final third.
A key part of Derby’s season again this year, he made 42 appearances for The Rams in all competitions. For Derby though, it was another season of mid-table mediocrity in the Championship and Hughes is arguably too good to be wasting his career in the English second-tier.
Celtic would provide a massive platform for the England U21 international to impress, more than good enough to be effective in the Scottish Premiership but also an exciting prospect when it comes to stepping up to the Champions League too.
Signing him would show ambition, Derby are sure to see him as a key asset, but the Hoops have money to spend this summer and securing a big midfield talent could be huge for their hopes next season.
Aaron Mooy
Aaron Mooy had a fantastic first season in English football this term after making a shock move from Australia to Manchester City last summer. They put him out on loan to the Championship and he was a massive part of Huddersfield Town’s fairytale promotion tale.
He has real quality on the ball with the ability to unpick defences, find teammates in the final third and deliver excellent set-pieces. He would be a formidable partner to Scott Brown.
He is unlikely to make a breakthrough in the Manchester City team next season and given the healthy relationship between the Hoops and City, another loan deal for the midfielder, this time at Celtic, could enhance his profile even further.
An international teammate of Tom Rogic, there’s also that partnership to consider. A midfield triangle of Mooy, Brown and Rogic sounds absolutely fantastic and more than capable of making a splash in Europe.
