Scottish clubs are primed for a summer of major exits, with Scottish Premiership sides on course to rewrite the record books by pulling in a record transfer haul. That could see in excess of £100m enter the game, as a clutch of key contributors are targeted for money-spinning exits.
Title Race Sparks Interest
The thrilling fight for the Scottish Premiership title earned admiring glances from further afield after Hearts were denied a first top flight title in 66 years by Celtic on the final day of the season. Rangers wilted in their post-split fixtures, but their key players are on the radar of free-spending clubs eager to enhance their squads.
Celtic's Star Assets
Champions Celtic have set the standard for maximising player sales, boasting nine of the ten most expensive departures from Scottish football. All-action Arne Engels looks set to follow the trend of key men leaving for big money. The 22-year-old Belgian watched as Nottingham Forest had a £25m bid rebuffed in January, and now more suitors have entered the mix. Milan, Lazio, and Leipzig are all fans of the former Augsburg man, who joined Celtic for a club record fee of £11m back in August 2024.
Benjamin Nygren's free-scoring exploits will see suitors emerge, as any shortcomings in the Swede's game are forgiven thanks to his 21 goals from midfield. Daizen Maeda won't come cheap either, if he gets his wish of fulfilling a dream of starring in the English Premier League.
Rangers' Prize Possessions
Rangers rebuffed interest in a host of players in January, and Youssef Chermiti is already back on the radar of Fenerbahce. Danny Rohl's side have quoted £25m for a striker who specialises in scoring in big games. The 22-year-old still has areas to improve upon, but his maverick streak coupled with his physical traits has resulted in serious interest.
Emmanuel Fernandez was backed by Peterborough chief Barry Fry to make Rangers millions, and the central defender appears a sound bet to back up his mentor's effusive praise. The Nigeria international is prone to moments of indecision, but his athleticism coupled with his physicality in both boxes has led to scouting visits from Bundesliga big boys Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.
Nico Raskin wouldn't come cheaply either, with the 25-year-old a key member of a resurgent Belgium side who have appeared a dangerous proposition for rivals at the World Cup. Raskin came off the bench to score in a resounding 5-0 win over Tunisia on Saturday night. He has two years remaining on his current Ibrox deal.
Hearts' Talisman
Hearts talisman Claudio Braga has made a career of defying convention, and his exploits in Gorgie have proved to be the jewel in the Jamestown Analytics crown. It is understood Hearts are desperate to keep hold of their main man in the wake of Shankland's exit, and it doesn't appear Braga is itching for an exit. An eight-figure fee seems unlikely to gatecrash the top 10 sales, but it is hard to truly quantify the value of a player who continues to improve with each passing season to the level Braga has. Harry Milne is another who will no doubt be coveted elsewhere, but the Jambos won't be in any rush to lose him.
Record-Breaking Potential
Sales in excess of £100m would have proved fanciful, but it seems a genuine reality now, with Engels and Chermiti primed to contribute over half of that by themselves if Celtic and Rangers receive the fees they crave, with interest soaring in both. Matt O'Riley's £30m move to Brighton remains the largest fee received, but that is at risk this summer if a bidding war begins. And that could result in a major reshuffle to the most expensive exits of all time, with former Celtic trio Kris Ajer, Virgil van Dijk, and Victor Wanyama set to drop out of the top 10 list.
