Celtic: Maik Nawrocki exit now looks obvious at Parkhead
Celtic have surely decided to sell loanee Maik Nawrocki before next season as numerous European centre-backs are eyed by their hierachy ahead of the summer.
Nawrocki has spent this season on loan at German second-tier side Hannover 96 after he struggled to force his way into the Celtic team last term.
The 25-year-old has found form at Hannover, particularly in recent weeks, and recently admitted that he would be open to returning to Parkhead to play his part in 2026-27.
He has also attracted transfer interest from Bundesliga sides, however, and the Hoops could be tempted to cash in on him after some impressive performances out on loan.
Celtic’s latest transfer plans give the impression that a decision has already been made on that front, and that Nawrocki will be leaving the club permanently in the coming months.
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VISIT THE CELTIC TRANSFER HUBMaik Nawrocki set to leave Celtic as Zinedin Smajlovic and Oskar Wojcik eyed
Nawrocki has displayed his quality in recent weeks as Hannover chase promotion to the Bundesliga, with key goals in consecutive games against Schalke and Eintracht Braunschweig.
He now looks set to be a starter in their final three games of the regular season, with Bild recently reporting that interest in him from top-flight sides in Germany is growing ahead of the summer.
| Appearances | 15 |
| Minutes played | 1150′ |
| Goal contributions | 5 |
| Successful pass % | 88.9% |
| Chances created | 9 |
| Duels won per 90 | 6.03 |
| Aerial duels won per 90 | 3.83 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 2.5 |
His good form has raised questions around their next manager potentially looking to reintegrate him into the squad at Parkhead next season, with Thomas Frank a top target for Celtic, as revealed by Football Insider.
That certainly seems unlikely given recent transfer developments, with journalist Rudy Galetti reporting that the Hoops are interested in Sandefjord centre-back Zinedin Smajlovic.
He recently made the Eliteserien’s Team of the Season for his impressive performances in the 2025 campaign, and is not the only defender that Celtic are eyeing on the continent.
Cracovia defender Oskar Wojcik remains on their radar, according to Goal.pl, after they failed in a £3.5m bid to sign him in the winter.
Celtic are clearly targeting those lesser European leagues for centre-back depth in the summer, even though Nawrocki is impressing out on loan.
He is surely set for the exit door now that their summer targets have been made clear, with their next boss unlikely to even have an opportunity to utilise him in pre-season.
What has Nawrocki said about his Celtic future?
The 25-year-old may not even want to return to Celtic, as he looks to have found a club that trusts him and appreciates his talents in Hannover.
They will likely need to win promotion to the Bundesliga to have any chance of securing a permanent deal, but Nawrocki has insisted that he is open to all options ahead of the summer.
Speaking to the German press earlier in April, he said: “There are several options for me at the end of the season.
“I could stay here, go back to Celtic or maybe go somewhere completely different. This loan move has worked out very well for me.
“It was important that I played regularly again after two years of hardly playing. The way we play is also good for me.
“I really like it in Hannover. The city is incredibly beautiful. I felt comfortable in the team right from the start.”
He certainly seems open to all options regarding Celtic, but an exit looks more likely than anything else as they eye other centre-back additions.
Target: Elijah Just (Motherwell)
Long-term: Carter-Vickers out
League Pos: 2nd (61 pts)
Status: Summer Talks Underway
Revenue: £143.6m (2025)