Martin O'Neill shoots down transfer rumour as Bundesliga star not targeted

Tom Weber

• 11 Feb 2026 04:30 CST
• 5 min read

Nieuws

Interim boss Martin O'Neill has responded to suggestions that Celtic have offered a contract to RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager.

The January window has only just closed, but speculation about summer business is in full swing. Even Celtic, whose main priority is finding a new permanent head coach, are already being linked with potential new signings.

The Hoops had a flurry of activity late in the January transfer window, adding Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Benjamin Arthur and Joel Mvuka after signing Julian Araujo early in the month when Wilfried Nancy was still in charge.

Since the window shut, the Parkhead club have also added free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to their roster after opting to sign the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder over ex-Chelsea man Tiemoue Bakayoko.

For weeks, RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager has been associated with a summer move to Glasgow. The Austria international, a very good Bundesliga midfielder on his day, will leave the Saxon outfit when his deal expires.

O'Neill responds to Schlager rumours

In recent days, reports have claimed that Celtic have now offered a contract to the 28-year-old, but interim head coach Martin O'Neill has emphatically denied this rumour. “No," the 73-year-old bluntly said. "Definitely not.”

This should come as no surprise because Schlager is fielding interest from some European giants, including Juventus. In fact, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano already revealed several weeks ago that the Bianconeri were close to reaching an agreement with the Leipzig star.

"Let’s see how the season pans out first," O'Neill added when quizzed about Celtic's potential summer business. "They won’t want much of my involvement if we don’t win another game.

"I am sure that the new manager coming in, and Celtic should be on the search now, should be looking and have his own scouting system up and running. There will be a more robust look at how we approach the transfer market.

"Sometimes it does go to the last minute, but it’s about having things in place and up and running, not like last year."

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