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News
- 1 hours ago
Celtic submit contract offer to FIRST summer signing
Cameron Smith
- 9 Feb 2026 10:50 GMT
- 6 min read
News
Celtic have reportedly offered a pre-contract deal to RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager as they look to secure the Austrian’s signature this summer.
Martin O’Neill’s side were extremely active during the winter transfer window, adding Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka, Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara, Benjamin Arthur and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to their first-team squad, however more additions are planned for later this year.
Current ETV
Xaver Schlager
M, DM (C)
RB Leipzig
Xaver Schlager
M, DM (C)
RB Leipzig
ETV Range
€5.1M - €6.9M
Schlager has been identified as a potential summer signing and Celtic have already submitted their first contract offer, as per The Daily Record.
The 28-year-old has confirmed that he will leave Leipzig when his current deal expires in July, after rejecting a contract extension proposal, and Celtic are among the clubs eager to land him.
Teams in England and Italy are also interested in signing Schlager, but the Hoops are the only club to have lodged an official offer so far as they look to bolster their midfield unit amid growing interest in Arne Engels.
Schlager has been a regular starter for Leipzig since his arrival from Wolfsburg in 2022 and he is expected to play a pivotal role for Austria at the upcoming World Cup after missing the most recent European Championship with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Bayern Munich plea
While Celtic are keen to win the race for Schlager, ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Lothar Matthaus has urged his former club to sign the Leipzig star this summer.
Speaking to BILD, the Germany legend admitted: “He's a free agent, has international experience, and has known the Bundesliga for years. And in Leipzig, he's not just responsible for the physical aspects of the game, but also contributes to the team's attacking play.
“Schlager is like [Konrad] Laimer's twin on the pitch. He is just as tenacious and strong in tackles.”
Bayern are expected to sign at least one new central midfielder this summer to replace the departing Leon Goretzka and Hertha Berlin wonderkid Kennet Eichhorn is among their early targets.
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