Five MLS players Wilfried Nancy should sign for Celtic

Tom Weber

• Updated: 13 Dec 2025 15:04 GMT
• 6 min read

Analysis

New Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy will be in for a big January transfer window.

The Frenchman has succeeded Brendan Rodgers and interim boss Martin O'Neill, but his decision to immediately try to implement his 3-4-3 system has yet to bear fruit.

Nancy has lost both of his first two games in charge, and while it is too early to make a conclusive judgement, it does seem as though Celtic's squad is not necessarily suited to this new formation.

This has only increased the pressure on the Parkhead club to have a successful January window, which was always bound to be a significant one as star forward Daizen Maeda is expected to leave.

European clubs will be reluctant to sell their key players mid-season, though, so it could be a boon for Celtic that Nancy is coming from Major League Soccer. The off-season in the States is now in full swing, which means that it could be easier to sign talent from across the pond.

So, here are five players Nancy should sign from his old stomping ground...

Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew)

Since it became clear that Nancy would take the Parkhead job, Celtic have bizarrely been linked with a move for Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali. This was an easy link to make, given that Nancy coached him and Celtic fans' support for the Palestinian cause.

However, there is simply no way that Celtic will actually sign the 26-year-old. Abou Ali has been injured since September, which is why he didn't feature for his country at the Arab Cup, and it would require a significant premium to buy him as he only joined the Crew in the summer.

If there is a forward at Nancy's former employer Celtic may have a realistic chance of bringing in, it is Diego Rossi. The 27-year-old only has a year to run on his contract, and he has been prolific despite not necessarily being an out-and-out striker.

The Uruguay international is capable of playing all across the frontline, but Nancy primarily used him as one of his No.10s, a position from which he scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 2025. This is also where he could play for Celtic, or he could be used as a No.9.

Owen Wolff (Austin FC)

The Celtic fans consulted for this article made it clear that the midfield is a particular area of concern, so the next player on this list is Austin FC star Owen Wolff. Had Philadelphia Union homegrown Quinn Sullivan not torn his ACL late in the season, he would have been a good shout as well.

Wolff was a standout performer for Austin in 2025, contributing an impressive seven goals and 11 assists across all competitions. Unsurprisingly, the 20-year-old has been attracting attention from around MLS and Europe.

The great thing with Wolff is that Celtic would get the full package: a young player already performing at a good level but who still has room to improve. Moreover, they would kill two birds with one stone as he is capable of playing in central midfield and further forward as one of the 10s.

Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders)

For a more traditional central midfielder, we would suggest Seattle Sounders hotshot Obed Vargas. The 20-year-old is not quite as attack-minded as Wolff, but he is no stranger to getting involved in the attack, as illustrated by his record of six goals and two assists in 2025.

Vargas bossed the midfield in Seattle's impressive Leagues Cup final over Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, and the youngster is already a two-time senior Mexico international.

It is possible that Vargas is on the move this off-season - he has received interest from Mexico and the Netherlands - but the Sounders' recent sale of Danny Leyva to Club Nexaca suggests that there is some confidence that their homegrown star will agree a new contract.

Peyton Miller (New England Revolution)

The Celtic fans who contributed to this article were torn on whether the Parkhead club were more in need of a right wing-back or a left wing-back, so we decided to choose a player for the latter position.

That player is New England Revolution wonderkid Peyton Miller, who has been described by league insiders as a potentially "generational" left-back for the US Men's National Team.

The 18-year-old notched two goals and three assists in 26 appearances in a team that alternated between using a back four and a back three/five, so he would be useful to Celtic even if the Nancy experiment doesn't work out.

For the right wing-back position, we would have suggested Orlando City's Alex Freeman, who recorded six goals and six assists in 2025 and who established himself as Mauricio Pochettino's first-choice right-back for the USMNT.

Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union)

Another breakout star of the 2025 MLS season was centre-back Olwethu Makhanya. After joining the Union in 2023, this was the year where the South African established himself as a key player.

The 21-year-old was part of the best defence in the league, although he - somewhat surprisingly - did not make the top three voting for MLS's Defender of the Year award. His teammates Kai Wagner (left-back) and Jakob Glesnes (centre-back) came third and second, respectively.

The winner of the award, Vancouver Whitecaps star Tristan Blackmon, could also have been a suggestion for this spot on the list, but we figured that Celtic would be more interested in a 21-year-old with significant resale value and room to improve than a 29-year-old.

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