celtics Leading the list with an astonishing 14 points scottish premier league They entered the new year with a 4-0 win over St Johnstone on Sunday.

The Hoops secured a comprehensive win at Parkhead at the weekend to ensure they start 2025 in a sensational position in the division, with Wanderers dropping points against Motherwell to help widen the gap.

Keigo Furuhashi scored twice, Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda both scored, while Kasper Schmeichel held on to score. 15th clean sheet in 18 games.

With 16 wins and two draws in 18 league games so far, the Boyles are on track to win a fourth consecutive title, conceding points both away to Dundee United and at home to Aberdeen.

However, the Celtics’ strong showing in the division doesn’t mean Brendan Rogers There will be no search for ways to improve the squad in the January transfer window, which officially opens on Wednesday.

The Scottish giants will continue to look for ways to improve, especially with the knockout stages of the Champions League looming in 2025, and they are reportedly on the lookout for a new midfielder.

Celtic eyeing England midfielder

Celtic are preparing to sign Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill at the end of the 2024/25 season, according to The Boot Room.

According to reports, the 29-year-old star has not yet accepted a new contract with the Championship team and his current contract is due to expire next summer.

This means the former Bristol City Dynamo will become a free agent at the end of the season and will enter pre-contract negotiations with teams from Scotland and Europe (outside England) in the January transfer window.

“Boot Room” adds that Fiorentina and Lazio are ready to sign the English gem on a free transfer.

The report adds that Celtic and Rangers are also interested in signing the experienced wizard and are considering their own proposals to bring him to Glasgow, although it is unclear whether he would be interested in moving to Scotland.

English sides including West Ham United, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Brentford are said to be interested in Brownhill, but they are unable to negotiate a pre-contract deal in January and will have to wait until the summer unless they are willing to Reached permanent transfer agreement with Burnley.

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It suggests there is fierce competition for the Burnley skipper’s signature and it won’t be easy for Celtic to get over the line, especially with offers already coming in from Serie A.

However, his performances in the Championship this season for the Clarets suggest he is a player worth fighting for, as the England ace could become an excellent addition to Rodgers’ side, as well as Arne Engels The perfect midfield partner.

Arne Engels’ performance this season

Celtic board of directors approved Club record £11m deal Matt O’Reilly is set to sign the Belgium international from German side Augsburg in the summer transfer window, following the sale of Matt O’Reilly to Brighton.

Engels arrived at Parkhead as a young player and needed time to develop and grow before hitting his stride at Parkhead, but given the money spent on him there was still an expectation that he could deliver on the pitch.

The Belgian starlet has produced Five goals and eight assists To date, he has made 24 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, including one goal and three assists in six Champions League games.

As you can see in the table above, the quality of the shots Engels has received from his teammates in the Premier League so far this season has been very poor.

In the 4 “great chances” and 21 key passes he created for the team, they only awarded him 1 assist, which shows that too many players’ efforts in the final third are wasted.

This is why Brownhill would serve as the perfect signing for Engels in midfield, as the pair can be lethal at the top of the pitch.

Why Celtics should sign Josh Brownhill

Celtic could do so by bringing the English maestro to Parkhead on a free transfer at the end of the season, or on a cut-price deal in January given his stellar form in the Championship .

In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Brownhill created Four goals and two assists In 23 starts, his team were relegated from the top flight.

That comes after the former Bristol City star’s success Seven goals and eight assists 41 appearances into the 2022/23 season, Vincent Kompany’s side have won the title.

With Burnley falling back into England’s second tier this season, his form has once again drawn attention to his contribution at the upper end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Brownhill is incredibly efficient in front of goal from a midfield position, scoring nine goals in the Championship with just 4.69 xG.

this £45,000 per week Ace, who is Known as “Wonderful” Critic Lee Hendrie said he has the ability to make the most of opportunities created for him by his teammates, scoring 13 goals with 6.63 xG since the start of last season.

It suggests the Celtic target would be the perfect signing for Engels, as the Belgian genius would have another player capable of capitalizing on the “big chances” he creates in the Premier League, making them a lethal combination.

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