Celtic ‘Preparing Bid’ for £15m Premier League Ace as Rangers Transfer Praised by Club Chairman
Celtic are reportedly preparing a formal bid for a £15 million-rated Premier League ace as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season. The move comes just as city rivals Rangers receive plaudits from a top chairman over a shrewd transfer piece of business.
According to multiple sources close to the deal, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is pushing hard for the signing of Burnley winger Manuel Benson, who is being valued at around £15 million. The 26-year-old Belgian caught the eye during Burnley’s promotion-winning campaign in the Championship under Vincent Kompany, with his pace, trickery, and goal threat making him a standout performer.
Despite Burnley’s relegation back to the Championship, Benson remains keen to play top-flight football and is open to a move north of the border. Celtic, who are preparing for Champions League football, view him as a dynamic wide option capable of adding both creativity and goals, especially with uncertainty looming over the futures of Liel Abada and Sead Hakšabanović.
Sources indicate that Celtic’s recruitment team has been in contact with Benson’s representatives and are set to table an opening bid in the region of £10 million, with potential add-ons to sweeten the deal. Burnley are reportedly open to negotiations, particularly as the club looks to restructure their squad following Kompany’s exit and the appointment of Scott Parker.
Meanwhile, across Glasgow, Rangers’ recent transfer activity has drawn praise from an unlikely figure — Stoke City chairman John Coates, who publicly commended the Ibrox club for completing a deal for winger Tyrese Campbell.
Campbell, 24, joined Rangers on a free transfer after rejecting a new deal at Stoke. The forward was a key figure for the Potters over several seasons, scoring 33 goals in 163 appearances despite battling multiple injury setbacks.
Speaking during a recent fan Q&A session, Coates said:
“We’re disappointed to lose a player of Tyrese’s quality, of course. But full credit to Rangers — they’ve got themselves a fine player, and they conducted themselves professionally throughout the process. We wish Tyrese the very best in Glasgow.”
The Ibrox faithful are equally excited about Campbell’s arrival, with supporters hoping he can rediscover his best form under manager Russell Martin, who has already made several eye-catching additions in the current window, including Emmanuel Fernandez and a possible swoop for Thelo Aasgaard.
The contrasting fortunes of Celtic and Rangers in the transfer market continue to be a focal point this summer. While Rangers have moved early and decisively to add reinforcements, Celtic’s strategy has been more cautious — but the potential arrival of a Premier League-caliber talent like Manuel Benson would signal serious intent from Brendan Rodgers.
With pre-season fixtures underway and the Champions League qualifiers fast approaching, both clubs are under pressure to finalise key deals. Should Celtic succeed in landing Benson, it could prove a pivotal addition in the title race — and a statement of ambition from the reigning Scottish champions.
