Championship Rebel Linked With Move to Scottish Giants

Celtic Circle Championship Striker In Bid to Boost Firepower

For the first time in what feels like forever, Celtic do not lead the Scottish Premiership scoring charts. They don’t even boast outright second, thanks to fifth-placed Hibernian’s 33-goal output, and with Hearts leading the way with 38 and in far better form than the Bhoys, something needs to change for Wilfriend Nancy and quick.

Celtic strikers of old were bullies - 100% commitment at all times, no shortage of aggression, and a complete and total conviction that every time they went for a ball, they would end up winning it, and every shot they took would find the back of the net.

Celtic are looking for desperate answers under new manager Wilfried Nancy, and transfer attentions have turned to a Preston North End player ahead of the mid-season window opening 👀

Read more 👇 https://t.co/51uQwZtRfF#CelticFC #PNEFC

— Football League World (@FootballLeagueW) December 31, 2025

Fortunately, Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic fits that mould perfectly, and with Celtic allegedly targeting him ahead of the January transfer window, the move could represent a throwback to the glory days of the past.

Who is Milutin Osmajic?

Over the last year or so, the majority of English football fans will have heard the name Milutin Osmajic - he was charged with racist abuse after a fixture with Burnley back in 2024, and just three months later was slapped with a £20 million price tag by the club, an eye-watering sum of money for a Championship player.

Brought in as Preston's record signing from Spanish side Cadiz for just over £2 million, the Montenegran international has shown himself to be an accomplished finisher at a high level, netting 27 goals for Preston in two and a half seasons.

However, there is more to his game than just scoring; thanks to his remarkable physicality, aggression, and complete focus, he is the focal point for any Preston possession that makes it out of their own half. He is arguably the most valuable cog in Paul Heckingbottom’s system.

He also has 32 international caps to his name for Montenegro, and while his return of four goals appears meagre, two of those have come in his last three appearances, highlighting his growing maturity against the best the international stage has to offer.

It is easy to see why Celtic are after him - his mere presence inspires panic in opposing back lines, as they know that if they make even the slightest slip-up, Osmajic will be on top of them, and with Celtic the chasers in a title race in a league in which they have so frequently tasted success, that presence is so important.

Milutin Osmajic gestures towards the Burnley fans as he doubles Preston's lead.

The goalscorer has been accused of racially abusing Hannibal Mejbri who was left out of Scott Parker's squad.#FACup pic.twitter.com/Nl1QFxo9U1

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 1, 2025

He will come at a cost - his current market value sits at £2.1 million - but it is a price they should be willing to pay. Wilfried Nancy’s start at Celtic has not exactly got off to a smooth start, and the sooner he shows a willingness to alter their trajectory, the sooner he gets his own fans onside.

The move is far from certain, but it would certainly be an interesting one if it were to go through - certainly keep an eye on Osmajic’s progress if he does end up in Scotland.