Celtic given transfer HOPE in race for key summer target

Dundee boss Steven Pressley has hinted that Celtic target Luke Graham could leave the club during the 2026 summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old was linked with a January exit, but a deal failed to materialise and he will therefore remain at Dundee for the rest of the 2025-26 season.

However, Celtic and Rangers have both been tipped to pursue a deal for the central defender this summer, while several clubs in England are also expected to lodge official enquiries for his signature later this year.

Pressley believes that Graham is destined to become a Premier League player and he has suggested that a sale will be permitted by the Dundee hierarchy this summer if they receive a suitable offer for the 22-year-old.

Graham, who has racked up 30 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign, has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of just €600,000, but this is expected to increase significantly before this summer if he continues to excel for Dundee.

Luka Graham transfer message

Speaking to reporters ahead of Dundee’s trip to Aberdeen on Saturday, Pressley admitted (via Glasgow World): “The only thing that surprised me was that neither Celtic or Rangers looked to be pursuing him in January.

“He’s maybe a couple of steps away, but I believe that Luke’s a Premier League player. News of them being interested doesn’t surprise me at all.

“Normally young players can be affected by this situation, but Luke’s performances have improved during what has been quite an uncertain period for him which says a lot about him.

“We haven’t spoken much about it. I’ve tried to keep things as normal as possible, not too many distractions, just let him get on with it. He’s been a credit to himself.”

Pressley added: “There was a genuine feeling around the group that when we all went into an analysis meeting the day after the window closed and Luke was sitting there, everybody was pleased to see him. That’s the respect he’s got from his fellow players.

“For someone so young, we were all pleased that he was still in the building. That tells a lot of the story.”

However, Pressley is aware that a sale is likely to take place if Dundee receive a major transfer offer this summer.

“We understand that there comes a point in a young player’s career where he wants to step on. We get that, but at the same time, the club have given him a great platform and education,” he said.

“All we want is for Dundee to be rewarded in the right manner. And then, the next part for us is that we have to become better at future planning and finding the next Luke.

“That’s either within the club where we’ve got a ready-made replacement and we sell him at the right time, or we have one ready to come in. That’s where we have to improve so there’s not such a void when we lose good players.”

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