Keith Wyness drops Celtic title verdict, names one signing who's impressed him

By Ciaran Morrison | Tue 17 February 2026 17:29, UK

Former Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has delivered his verdict on Celtic's Scottish Premiership title chances, praising manager Martin O'Neill's authority and highlighting one standout signing.

Speaking exclusively on Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness emphasized O'Neill's strong position at Celtic Park. He noted that O'Neill blocked a £25 million bid from Nottingham Forest for key midfielder Arne Engels in January, despite the board's eagerness to bolster the club's finances. "Martin has got the power at the moment... I’m sure the Celtic board would have been salivating at the chance to get £25 million. They love the bank account... but Martin, having a pretty strong position, has said no," Wyness said[1][2][5].

Wyness credited O'Neill's influence with securing three loan deals mid-season, reinforcing the squad without disrupting the title challenge. Recent results have propelled Celtic into a fierce race with Rangers and Hearts, with both Glasgow giants eyeing each other warily. "They're in a title race... both teams are looking at this and they’re eyeing each other up to who’s going to finish strongest," he added[2][3].

Turning to impressions from recent business, Wyness singled out Gasama as a player who's caught his eye. "Certainly Gasama, I think, is one that they would want to keep anyway," he remarked, suggesting Celtic could command a similar fee for him in summer regardless[2].

Wyness also touched on broader implications, noting growing international TV interest in the SPL title race could boost future media deals. He dismissed ongoing ownership questions around Dermot Desmond, stating they've quieted as O'Neill "works his magic."[3]

Despite a postponed match at Aberdeen due to a waterlogged pitch, Celtic remain well-placed. Wyness portrayed O'Neill as "ruling the roost," positioning the club strongly for the run-in against rivals Rangers and Hearts[5].

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