Celtic’s New Target: A Free‑Scoring French Forward

The Scottish club is in a bidding war for Elias Filet, a 24‑year‑old striker who recently signed with FC Aarau on a free transfer. Filet’s journey began in French academies before moving to Sochaux, where he could not secure regular first‑team minutes. A loan spell in Luxembourg saw him score 20 goals, but the club still let him go on a Bosman move to Croatia. He failed to find the net there, and Aarau picked him up for nothing, only to see his form dip in the second half of the season. Filet’s revival came in Switzerland, where he netted 22 times and added six assists over 40 games. His goal‑scoring spree helped the club reach a promotion playoff, though they ultimately fell short after losing an extra‑time lead. Aarau finished just one point shy of the champions, who secured automatic promotion despite a late loss to Filet’s team.With his contract due next summer, the striker is expected to seek new opportunities rather than stay for another promotion push. Aarau stands to profit from a sale, and Celtic must act swiftly if they want him for a modest fee. Celtic’s recent winter acquisitions, including Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu, returned to their parent clubs after limited impact in Scotland. Their striker Kelechi Iheanacho remains uncontracted amid injury concerns, while Callum Osmand and Daizen Maeda are attracting outside interest. The club is also weighing the inclusion of Johnny Kenny after a successful loan in England. Adding Filet would give Celtic a reliable target man who thrives inside the box, fitting neatly into Martin O’Neill’s 4‑2‑3‑1 system and addressing the team’s uncertain striking options.