Ex-SPFL club chief: Celtic manager ‘favourite’ could make decision about signing Julian Araujo
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Sat 28 March 2026 9:15, UK Celtic could already be talking to managerial favourite Jens Berthel Askou over which players he wants to keep at Parkhead.That is according to former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, on whether Celtic would like to keep Julian Araujo at the club next season.Askou is a leading contender to takeover from Martin O’Neill, when the interim boss steps down at the end of the season, following a successful first campaign in charge of Motherwell.Araujo’s loan spell from Bournemouth expires at the end of the season, and his future remains uncertain due to Celtic not having a permanent manager going into the summer window.Celtic are set to rebuild their squad no matter who takes over from O’Neill, as the Glasgow club look set to miss out on the Scottish Premiership title for the first time in four years. 🔄 Celtic Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on latest signings, departures, and contract news from the Parkhead boardroom. VISIT THE CELTIC TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Celtic ‘sounding out players’ with managerial favouriteWyness – who served as chief executive at Aberdeen between 2000 and 2004 – believes Askou may be making decisions about the futures of Celtic players behind the scenes.Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Araujo’s future at Parkhead may already have been decided.Games Managed40Games Won21Games Drawn12Games Lost7Goals Scored71Goals Conceded37Jens Berthel Askou’s managerial record at Motherwell in all competitions.He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It does seem that the Motherwell manager seems to be favourite.
“There could well be sounding, if this is going to be a done deal behind the scenes, which it may well be, then you’d think that they’d be reaching out and having soundings with him. “Is this the sort of player you would want as well and getting a thumbs up, which is probably wrong, but would probably still be happening in reality behind the scenes.
“So those are the sort of factors I think that you’ve got to think about for a player like that.” Celtic braced for offers on midfield pairSources have told Football Insider that Celtic are expecting bids for Reo Hatate and Arne Engels in the summer.Engels was the subject of multiple bids from Nottingham Forest in January, whilst Hatate could be lining up a departure at the end of the season.The duo have been key players in the middle of the park at Celtic, and could command sizeable transfer fees, which could be good news for the club if they miss out on European football.