Credit: Imago

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Tue 19 May 2026 16:30, UK

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Celtic have no plans to loan Callum Osmand out for the 2026-27 campaign despite a difficult first season in Scotland, sources have told Football Insider.

The 20-year-old has made just four first-team appearances since signing from Fulham’s academy last summer, but he has certainly made a positive impact during that time.

It is understood that now the striker has recovered from his injury problems, the Hoops hope that he can make a push into the starting lineup next season, with the player also wanting to fight for his spot.

Osmand already has two goals and an assist in four games, including one of each against Hearts on the final day of the Scottish Premiership, potentially ruling out the need for a new striker at Celtic.

Callum Osmand sparks pandemonium at Celtic Park

Despite playing just 31 minutes of Scottish Premiership football this season, Osmand came on as a late substitute against the Jambos to ensure that Martin O’Neill’s side lifted the club’s 56th league title.

He grabbed Daizen Maeda’s effort, making an incredible run in behind before sliding the ball across, then slotting home into an open net in the eighth minute of added time, as Hearts searched for an equaliser.

Celtic could now face a points deduction, at least that’s what former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes, for the ensuing pitch invasion at Celtic Park after the 3-1 win on Saturday, 16 May.

That will do very little to dampen the spirits at Barrowfield Training Centre, and what it certainly has done is shine a very bright spotlight on the Hoops’ 20-year-old centre-forward talent.

Celtic hero Daizen Maeda could be the one to leave instead

Maeda was just as important to the final-day win as Osmand, if not more, because of the timing of his goal, but that might be his last-ever action in a Celtic shirt.

The Japanese international has long been linked with an exit, with Nottingham Forest one of the clubs keeping tabs on his situation. He has already admitted that England is the “dream” destination.

Football Insider understands that Celtic plan to accept an offer for Maeda should a suitable one come in for him, allowing the attacker to reach the achievement of playing in the Premier League.

He was closing in on a move to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga last summer, but at the very last moment, the deal fell through. Celtic will be thankful that it did, with 26 goal contributions to come after.