Celtic need a squad of around 25 international footballer standard players - this is needed for Celtic to be capable of making it to the latter stages of European competition, something that they have not done for over 23 years.
This means that the Celtic squad needs 22 players at the calibre below, plus 5 Scottish players to provide a core to it (at worst 3 top level, and 2 development players).
Hence the Celtic squad as it currently stands lacks depth, with at least 5-6 new signings needed in January & the summer. If players leave, then they need even more than this.
As we all know, Celtic cannot afford to buy the top-level seasoned internationals (25 caps+) with values in the 10's of millions, however, Celtic must shop around for the best emerging players who are likely to be squad player internationals (5-15 caps).
Below are the 50 best emerging international players under 25 who fit this profile. Celtic should certainly have an eye on all the players below with a view to strengthening the squad this January.
These players are all at the age of under 25 where after a 3-4 year contract they would still have high sell-on value left. All players would be expected to attain at least 5-10 international caps during this time so their value should at worst stay the same. Many may even train super-hard like a Spartan to blosoom into 30 caps+ superstar internationals, with Clubs from the big 5 Leagues looking to pay 10's of millions for them.
In my opinion, this is the type of list I would be expecting the Celtic scouting department to be compiling with agents at the very least as a starting point for agreeing good deals/contracts on the transfer market. In fact, I would really be expecting a list of 100's of players to ensure absolute best value (there are no shortcuts to getting value for money). Celtic should then be contacting the targets' Clubs to register their interest and invite the Club to provide a guaranteed price they would sell to them for before a certain date (or confirm if they are not for sale at any price) - Celtic could then let the agents do their job of ironing out an exact fee including performance related add-ons. A long list of targets means if the economics formulae used by Clubs & agents to value players are not being used, Celtic would be able to walk away from a deal & obtain value elsewhere. At Celtic you cannot afford to go OCD on 'must have' targets. Having lots of options & only being prepared to pay the amount set by the economics formulae is how Celtic have to do business to be successful & sustainable.
The values of the players below are set by TransferMarkt - sometimes these are realistic in terms of the economic formulae used by Clubs & Agents, but sometimes they are around the correct mark...
I sat for 5 hours on a rainy day on TransferMarkt in 'Championship Manager' 'Super Agent' mode looking for players who looked good & decent value for money! Hope you enjoy reading it & speculating on transfers in the January window!
Quinn Sullivan, 21, £4.5m
American international with 3 caps, 11 goal contributions in last 31 games, forward or midfielder. Would be a superstar signing.
Manzur Okwaro, 19, £100k
Kenyan centre-back, 10 caps already, available for very cheap price from Nairobi United. Played 90 minutes for Kenya in defensive midfield in 2 victories vs DR Congo & Morocco. Could very well be the next Victor Wanyama. Celtic should be all over this. 100% worth taking a gamble on.
Jack McGlynn, 22, £1m
Established American international with 13 caps, 13 goal contributions in last 26 MLS games, central midfielder. Would be another superstar signing who we should be in the chase for.
Tae-seok Lee, 23, £700k
Left back, 13 caps for South Korea, 4 goal contributions so far in the Austria League, looks a top class left back.
Sang-yun Kang, 21, £400k
Central midfielder, 3 caps for South Korea, 40 caps for the South Korean Youth teams, under 20 & Olympic team, 100 K1 League Appearances, already a K1 League & Korean Cup Winner. Looks to be in the same class of player as Park Ji Sung - terrific midfield player.
Nino Marceli, 20, £4m
38 goal contributions in 111 appearances for Slovan Braislava,15 goal contributions in 23 u21 Slovakian caps, excellent winger.
Giorgi Guliashvili, 24, £1.25m
SK Sarajevo captain, 6 caps for Georgia, 71 goal contributions in 175 appearances. Would be a very solid forward option who could blossom into a superstar playing with better players around him.
Ryunosuke Sato, 19, £500k
Japanese attacking midfielder, this lad is the successor to Nakamura, 5 caps already for Japan, with 8 goals in 28 appearances in the J-League this season - would be a sensational signing of the highest order.
Atanas Chernev, 23, £650k
Bulgarian centre back, 1.95m in height so is a giant, plays in the Portuguese Premier League for Estrela, towering centre back would be an excellent signing.
Brian Gutierrez, 22, £4.5m
American international with 2 caps, attacking midfielder, 12 goal contributions in last 29 games, star signing.
Max Arfsten, 24, £3m
Left winger, established American international with 16 caps, 13 goal contributions in last 35 MLS appearances, excellent signing.
Patrick Schulte, 24, £3m
Goalkeeper, 3 caps for America, 1.93 in height so is a giant of a man, already an MLS Cup Winner with 109 MLS games under his belt. Looks an excellent goalkeeper. This is the American Donnarumma.
Aleksandr Narimanidze, 20, £400k
At only 20 years old has established MSK Zilina centre-back mainstay, and recently called up to Georgia squad.
Filip Mielke, 20, £400k
Number 1 centre back for the Slovakian u21 team, and according to SofaScore already one of the best centre backs in the Slovakian League.
Collins Sichenje, 21, £300k
Centre back, 8 caps for Kenya, current centre back for Vojvodina in the Serbian League. Looks a solid centre back. Excellent option if available for the right price.
Marin Petkov, 22, £3m
Levski Sofia midfielder who at only 22 has already captained Levski on many occasions. 22 caps for Bulgaria already, as well 194 appearances for Levski Sofia with a very impressive 52 goal contributions from midfield. This is the successor to Stan Petrov & would be available for a reasonable price. Would be a great signing.
Petar Stanic, 24, £2.5m
Attacking midfielder for Ludogorets who is a very classy operator, recently called up to Serbia squad, scored an excellent goal in Europe vs West Ham proving he can perform against the Big 5 League Clubs, has been a star with 5 goals in 5 games in the Europa League this season, has 50 goal contributions in 150 games in the Bulgarian & Serbian leagues, if available for the right price could be a shrewd signing.
Martin Georgiev, 20, £1.25m
Bulgarian centre back with 3 caps, Slavia Sofia centre back, with Barcelona as a youth so very well-schooled & able to pass the ball out from the back as well as being an absolutely solid centre back unit. Would be a very good signing.
Fedor Lapoukhov, 22, £1.25m
Belarusian first choice goalkeeper with 14 caps, & CSKA Sofia goalkeeper. This guy looks a real top goalkeeper - has shades of both Artur Boruc & Rab Douglas about him so very much fits the bill.
Diego medina, 23, £700k
Defender who can play all across the backline for CSKA 1948, absolutely solid & dependable defender who already has 30 caps for Bolivia. Shades of Tommy Boyd abut him - would be a superb signing.
Svetoslav Vutzov, 23, £2m
Levski Sofia goalkeeper, 10 caps for Bulgaria. 20 clean sheets in 27 games this season is sensational form. Would be an excellent signing.
Ognjen Gasevic, 23, £550k
CSKA 1948 defender, left back, recently called up to Montenegro squad, 3 assists in 10 games in Bulgarian League this season as well as tenacious in the tackle. Looks a very dependable emerging player with a very good future ahead of him.
Calal Huseyunov, 22, £650k
Powerhouse centre-back who plays for Arda in Bulgarian League, established Azerbaijan international with 8 caps already, Looks to be a solid defender & getting better all the time.
Kristiyan Stoyanov, 22, £700k
Defensive midfielder, 3 caps for Bulgaria, 100 appearances for Slavia Sofia - would be a very good signing to strengthen the midfield.
Liam Morrison, 22, Contract expiring
Former Celtic youth player, QPR centre-back, established at Championship level, contract expiring at the end of the year, very solid centre-back. Might cause controversy as he took the money Bayern Munich threw at him as a young player, but let's not forget Gerard Pique did the same thing to Barcelona CF, so a few good performances in big games & this would be forgotten. A deal Celtic should 100% be looking into.
Dastan Satpaev, 17, £3m
Already has 6 caps for Kazakhstan, stellar record in the UEFA Youth League, has scored in the Champions League, 27 goal contributions in 42 games for Kairat. This lad is an emerging superstar & would be a terrific signing.
Oscar Zambrano, 20, £2m
Maribor centre-back, aged 20 - recently called up to the Ecuador squad. League champion in Ecuador, and considered to be the best centre back in the Slovenian League. Has failed a doping ban - might need to check this was for performance enhancers, and if so, quite frankly who cares...
Matevz Vidovsek, 26, £1m
NK Olimpija goalkeeper, 2 caps for Slovenia. Averages a clean sheet every 2 games in the Slovenian League. Very accomplished goalkeeper & but for Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak would have had more caps for Slovenia.
Nikita Iosifov, 24, £1m
24, NK Celje winger, former Russian U21 winger, former Villarreal, 25 goal contributions in his last 50 games, very good winger - seems a matter for debate why he's not moved onto bigger Club when clearly a first class player. One to keep an eye on if need a player in this position & valuation is reasonable.
Mateusz Bogusz, 24, £7m
Spectacular forward & established Polish international who was sensational in the MLS. Extremely classy forward with excellent pedigree. If fit & motivated this lad could be a superstar for Celtic. Has not settled in Mexico. A sizeable loan fee with obligation to buy could be excellent business.
Matias Kvistgarden, 23, £9m
Danish forward with excellent pedigree who has done okay in the Championship - if available for a decent fee should snap him up because he's a top level forward who is a perfect fit for Celtic.
David Strelec, 24, £7m
Seasoned & polished Slovakian number 9 who can play in all the forward positions, has done okay at Middlesbrough, but is an established excellent player - if available for a decent fee should snap him up because would score & assist in the SPFL as well as be able to perform on the European stage.
Milan Vukotic, 23, £2m
23, Partizan midfielder, 10 goal contributions in his last 17 Serbian League games, 9 caps for Montenegro. Scored a cracker vs Hibs in Europa Conference qualifier. This lad is prototype Celtic midfield player. Excellent signing.
Vasilije Kostov, 17, £3m
Central midfielder, 10 goals in 17 games in the Serbian League this season, 1 cap for Serbia already, has scored against Porto in Europe. This lad is a superstar - even though young player would walk into the team & be a fantastic signing.
Adriano Jagusic, 20, £1.5m
20, Slaven Belupo, attacking midfielder, 11 goal contributions in 16 Serbian League games, seasoned Croatian U21 international.
Bleon Kurtulus, 18, £1m
Halmstad centre back, only 18 but already established Swedish U21 defender & over 40 appearances in the Swedish League. Already ranked as Halmstad's 3rd best player at only 18. Has the Willie Miller look about him - would be a shrewd signing.
Noel Törnqvist, 23, £2m
Goalkeeper. On loan at Mjallby from Como. Seasoned goalkeeper through Sweish youth levels. Already brought into Sweden squad. Looks a top level goalkeeper.
Stije Resink, 22, £5m
Dutch midfielder is already captain of Groningen. Plays defensive midifield & has 7 goal contributions in 15 games. Looks an excellent midfield player.
Fidel Brice Ambina, 24, £2m
Just recently called up to the Cameroon squad, defensive midfielder, 8 goal contributions in his last 26 games in the Norwegian top flight at Valarenga. Very good player & one to be signed up if the price is reasonable.
Lindon Emërllahu, 23, £1m
CFR Cluj midfielder, midfielder/defensive midfielder, 12 caps for Kosovo, 2024 Kosovo League team player of the year, Romanian Cup winner, 6 goal contributions in last 16 games in the Romanian League.
Matyas Vojta, 21, £1m
Striker, for Mlada Boleslav, despite early age, already made 115 appearances in Czech Leagues with 41 goals & 10 assists, 5 Czech U21 caps. For the right price a very good signing & when playing with better players could blossom.
Levi Ntumba, 24, £150k
Goalkeeper, French youth international, went to Bulgaria for guaranteed gametime, and according to SofaScore has been Slavia Sofia's best player with a whopping 87% save percentage. Looks an absolutely sensational goalkeeper & would available for cheap. Should be all over this one.
Leandro Godoy, 24, £2m
Classy Argentinian forward with 10 goal contributions in his last 6 games for CSKA Sofia. Bags of ability & one to monitor carefully.
Lennon Miller, 19, £7m
Young Scottish international who has gone to Udinese & struggled for game time, but as we all know from watching him in the SPFL is a very high level number 8 who wit fit into Celtic perfectly. If available for a decent fee should snap him up.
Tawanda Maswanhise, 23, £400k
Zimbabwean forward who took a while to adjust to life in Scotland but has now shown himself to be a livewire winger & forward. Could be worth taking a punt on if the Well are reasonable with their asking price - already current top scorer in the SPFL, if keeps developing could be excellent.
Nariman Akhundzada, 21, £2m
122 appearances & 51 goal contributions for Qarabag, who have proven themselves to be a strong side in European football. Already 13 caps for Azerbaijan & established as his national team's number 1 forward, Looks to be a very good signing.
Marten-Chris Paalberg, 17, £400k
Already has 3 caps for Estonia with 18 goal contributions in 25 games in the Estonian League. Being called the Estonian Haaland! This lad is an emerging superstar who should be getting snapped up pronto.
Adrion Pajaziti, 23, £750k
Born in London & well schooled in the Fulham youth acadamy. Albanian international defensive midfielder with 5 caps, who is playing regularly & well for Hadjuk Split at the top of the Croatian League. Very dependeble midfield player who fits the bill.
Stefan Despotovski, 20, £650k
North Macedonia right back, currently performing very well in the Serbian League for Beograd & doing very well. Could be a shrewd signing.
Josh Doig, 23, £4.5m
From watching this lad in the SPFL we know he is a stellar player, and is now an established left back in Serie A. If available for the right price then should snap him up.
Warning: This is not professional legal advice. This is not professional legal education advice. This is an opinion on a legal matter believed to be of public importance. Please obtain professional guidance before embarking on any legal course of action. This is just an interpretation of a Judgment by persons of legal insight & varying levels of legal specialism, experience & expertise. Please read the Judgment yourself and form your own interpretation of it with professional assistance.