Celtic are considering a January move for Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, according to a report relayed from The Herald.
The 20-year-old has been on the Hoops’ radar as the club maps out its winter business while the managerial search continues.
Watson’s emergence has been one of the Premiership’s brightest stories over the past 18 months. He has stepped up for Killie, becoming a pivotal player, and has taken the armband for Scotland’s Under-21s at the start of the current qualifying campaign, underlining his leadership at a young age.
Celtic European Quota
From a Celtic perspective, the link makes football and squad-building sense. UEFA rules still require eight locally trained players on the 25-man List A for European competition, a quota that must be carefully managed across a long season.
Securing one of Scotland’s top young midfielders would future-proof that area while adding energy and ball-winning quality to the middle of the park.
Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Rangers v Kilmarnock – Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – October 26, 2025 Rangers’ Mikey Moore in action with Kilmarnock’s David Watson REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Crucially, recruitment work has not stopped despite the absence of a permanent manager. Brendan Rodgers resigned at the end of October, with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney stepping in on an interim basis.
The pair have steadied the ship with a 4-0 victory over Falkirk and a 3-1 extra-time win over Rangers to reach the League Cup semi-final, but the next appointment will shape the team’s long-term profile. Any serious move for Watson would need to align with that incoming manager’s plan for midfield.
Watson will not be short of suitors if Celtic move. Kilmarnock will be reluctant sellers in January unless their price is met. From Celtic’s angle, the call is straightforward.
If the club believes he can contribute now and grow into a long-term starter, this winter is the moment to test Killie’s resolve. If they can wait until the summer, they might go directly to the player himself.
While things go on behind the scenes to secure the medium to long-term future, the bhoys have to press ahead with a hectic schedule. They will be in action on Thursday night in the Europa League, followed by a game against Watson’s Kilmarnock on Sunday in the SPFL.
There is one more international break in November, and after that, there is a marathon run to the end of the year, including a cup final against St Mirren at Hampden and some really tough games in Europe against the likes of Roma and Feyenoord.
Soccer Football – Scottish League Cup – Semi Final – Celtic v Rangers – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – November 2, 2025 Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Celtic fans will be hoping a new manager will be in the dugout after the international break but after a short burst of potential candidates emerged in the days after Brendan Rodgers left his post, nothing new has arisen yet.
