Celtic are preparing to smash their transfer record this summer as they set their sights on Schalke 04's midfield maestro, Soufiane El-Faouzi. The 23-year-old has been identified as the ideal successor to club captain Callum McGregor, and the Hoops have already made initial contact with the German side.

El-Faouzi is coming off a stunning 2025-26 campaign, starting every single league match as Schalke stormed to the 2. Bundesliga title. With two goals and five assists from midfield, he was a driving force behind their promotion back to the Bundesliga. It's the kind of all-action, box-to-box performance that would make any club sit up and take notice.

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Celtic are asking around to gauge the player's availability. But here's the catch: Schalke have slapped a hefty £10 million price tag on their star man, who is under contract until 2029. For Celtic, that would be a club-record fee—a serious statement of intent.

O'Rourke warns that prising El-Faouzi away from Schalke won't be easy. "He's just won promotion back to the Bundesliga and was a key man for them," he noted on the Transfer Insider podcast. "Schalke's valuation could be prohibitive for Celtic. They're looking in excess of £10 million, and they've put that price tag up to scare off interested clubs."

To make matters tougher, Celtic aren't alone in the race. Brentford, Bologna, and Sunderland are all circling, making this a crowded transfer market. And with the Hoops still searching for a permanent manager after Brendan Rodgers' departure—Martin O'Neill is currently filling in as caretaker—there's an extra layer of uncertainty.

So, do Celtic need him? McGregor isn't getting any younger, and El-Faouzi brings energy, vision, and a winning mentality. But with a record fee, stiff competition, and no manager in place, this transfer saga is just getting started. One thing's for sure: if Celtic pull this off, it'll send a message that they mean business.