GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Dundee's Luke Graham arrives before a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Fifth Round match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park, on February 07, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Steven Pressley is surprised that Celtic didn’t move for Luke Graham during the January transfer window.
Fans had huge expectations for high turnover last month but in the end Celtic stuck to the loan market.
Their defensive options remained virtually unchanged.
Loan signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey left to join Cologne with Ben Arthur replacing him, on loan from Brentford.
Arthur’s first team experience is limited to three cup tie appearances for Brentford.
LIMITED DEFENSIVE OPTIONS AT CELTIC
Beyond Liam Scales and Auston Trusty, two left footers, Celtic’s next central defensive option is the rarely used Dane Murray.
Stephen Welsh briefly returned in January but signed again for Motherwell on Deadline Day.
After loan spells at Montrose and Falkirk Graham has started 30 matches this season for Dundee including 25 in the SPFL Premiership.
Celtic signed Luke McCowan from Dundee in August 2024 but opted out of a Dens Park return for Graham.
Discussing his defender, Steven Pressley told The Sun:
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
Portsmouth had a £1m bid for Graham turned down in January but a summer move seems likely for the defender.
Celtic are expected to undergo a massive rebuild in the summer but the direction of that remains unknown.
Currently Celtic have an interim manager, an interim Chairman and no Head of Football Operations.
Dundee seem keen to talk up interest in the hope of starting a bidding war for Graham.
Whether the hoops are prepared to get involved in that is one of the many issues that fans are wondering about.
CLICK HERE for Graham’s 25/26 stats
