Key Stoke City player eyed up by European outfit who are set for UEFA Champions League football | OneFootball

Stoke City winger Million Manhoef is catching the eye of Scottish giants Celtic.

Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic are keeping an eye on Stoke City winger Million Manhoef ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Dutchman has caught the eye for a struggling Stoke side this season, scoring four and assisting five goals in 31 appearances for the Staffordshire outfit so far. He joined the Potters from Vitesse in January 2024 for around £3m and is contracted to the club until the summer of 2027.

Following a win over Cardiff City this past weekend, Stoke look destined to be staying in the Championship once more, but that may not be enough for them to keep hold of one of their star players in the form of Manhoef.

Celtic eyeing up Stoke City's Million Manhoef in potential summer deal

According to a report from Alan Nixon, Celtic are keeping tabs on Dutch winger Manhoef as a potential addition for the 2025-26 season, with Brendan Rodgers keen to bolster his squad for another tilt at the UEFA Champions League.

2024-25 has been the breakthrough that Manhoef needed, as he's emerged as a key player for his side in what has been a difficult season on the pitch. Thanks to this, the 23-year-old is catching the eye elsewhere, in what may be a potential distraction for the Potters in the final few matches of the current campaign.

Celtic already have a left-footed in-form winger on the books already in Nicolas Kuhn, but is it claimed that the German could benefit from some strong competition, or may even need replacing if a big bid comes in from another club.

A deal could hinge on whether Stoke are playing in the Championship next season. If the Potters stay up, they will be able to command a larger for their star man if Celtic do come calling in the summer.

Championship survival could be key to retaining Million Manhoef for Stoke City

Stoke are still in some danger of relegation to the third tier, as the Staffordshire side sit just five points above the relegation zone. However, a 1-0 win over relegation rivals Cardiff City on Saturday was a big boost to their survival hopes.

With a massive club like Celtic circling round Manhoef, it's likely that the 23-year-old's future will hinge on whether the Potters stay up or go down. Nixon did suggest that the club will look for a decent fee, regardless of the division they find themselves in next season.

If Stoke stay up, the former Netherlands youth international could be content to stay at the Bet365 Stadium, as he looks to further assert himself in the first team. Manhoef missed a fair chunk of the season due to injury, which has kept his goal contribution numbers lower than what he could've got had he been fit for the full season.

Regardless, Mark Robins will be keen to either keep hold of their star attacker, or get a good fee for him which will get them an equally-capable replacement. If the Potters remain in the Championship, they will have a better chance of getting a big fee, or retaining Manhoef past the summer.