Celtic‘s exit from the Champions League looks set to have significant ramifications on their business between now and the end of the summer transfer window next week.
The Hoops were said to be closing in on a deal to sign Hajduk Split defensive midfielder Niko Sigur to bolster their options in the middle of the park before the deadline.
However, it has since been revealed that the Scottish Premiership giants will not be signing the Canada international because they were knocked out of the Champions League by LASK.
Failing to qualify for the league phase of the competition has come as a financial blow for the club, who must now pursue alternative targets in that area of the pitch.
Why Celtic not signing Niko Sigur is good news
Whilst missing out on a deal for Sigur is a blow on paper, because the club wanted to sign him, this update may come as a blessing in disguise for Martin O’Neill‘s side.
The 5-1 loss to LASK that knocked Celtic out of Europe exposed the team’s lack of a natural enforcer in the middle of the park, a player who can sit at the base of the midfield to disrupt the opposition and protect the back four.
Sigur may not have been that player for the Hoops because he has no experience in any of Europe’s major leagues and struggled with the physicality of the level when he played for Canada at the World Cup in the summer.
|
2026 World Cup |
Niko Sigur |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
3 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy |
81% |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
0.3 |
|
Duel success rate |
40% |
|
Ground duel success rate |
25% |
He may not have been able to adapt to the intensity and physicality of Scottish football, given his struggles on the international stage, and that is why it may end up being good news that the club are not signing him this summer.
However, the Scottish giants still need to go and find a suitable alternative who is affordable, given the lack of Champions League income, and a better option than Sigur.
How Celtic can make a better signing than Niko Sigur
Now, the board could make a better signing than Sigur for O’Neill’s side if they opt to pursue one of the other targets on their shortlist in the coming days.
According to CeltsAreHere, Celtic remain interested in a potential deal to sign Miguel Chaiwa from Hibernian before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that they hold a long-term interest in the Zambia international and that he is one of a number of midfielders they are considering a move for before the deadline, alongside Torino’s Gvidas Gineitis.
It adds that the player wants to seal a switch to Parkhead before the deadline and could be available for a fee of as little as £3m, which may be affordable to the Hoops after they failed to qualify for the Champions League.
CeltsAreHere also reveals that the door has been opened to sign the midfielder after Premier League side Sunderland opted to sign a different target, which means that Celtic could have a clear run at the player in the coming days.
Despite being sent off for Hibs against Genk on Thursday, Chaiwa could be the perfect alternative to Sigur that the Hoops need because he is a powerful midfielder who is already proven in the Premiership.
|
26/27 Premiership |
Miguel Chaiwa |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
2 |
|
Tackles |
2 |
|
Interceptions |
4 |
|
Ball recoveries |
6 |
|
Duels won |
10 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
54% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
50% |
The 22-year-old talent has already had a strong start to the league campaign with Hibs in Scotland, winning ten duels and 54% of his physical battles in the first two matches.
He also showcased his defensive strengths in the Premiership last season for Hibernian, notably winning six of his eight ground duels and making nine ball recoveries in a 2-1 win at Parkhead in February.
In the 2025/26 campaign, the £3m-rated talent won 56% of his total duels and 59% of his ground duels in the Premiership, showing that he can be dominant in Scottish football and can cope with the intensity and physicality of the division.
Whereas, it remained to be seen whether or not Sigur could cope with that after he struggled with the physicality of the World Cup over the summer, which is why he would have been a risky addition to the squad.
Chaiwa would be a lower-risk signing because the club already know that he can deliver strong performances in the Premiership as a physically powerful midfielder, and he is the exact profile of midfielder that O’Neill currently lacks in his squad.
Celtic need a dominant number six who can provide more physicality in the middle of the park and that is why the proven Premiership star would be the ideal signing and an even better addition than Sigur this summer.
