Biggest hint yet that Celtic could FINALLY seal deal for long-term transfer target as manager admits star could be sold
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CELTIC have been given the biggest green light yet when it comes to the pursuit of one of their top transfer targets.
The Hoops have already added six new players this summer but Brendan Rodgers won't be stopping there.
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Michel-Ange Balikwisha (c), has been a key man for Royal Antwerp
Credit: AFP
So far Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Callum Osmand, Benjamin Nygren, Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada have arrived at Celtic Park in the current window.
But one name who's been mentioned in connection with a move to the Parkhead club long before some of them is Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Celtic have been tracking him for over a year now but the speculation has intensified in the past couple of months.
Indeed, Balikwisha missed training last week amid the ongoing interest from the Hoops.
That came after reports suggesting a deal was close and that Celtic were ready to offer up a hefty sum to land the winger.
But he has been used in pre-season friendlies by boss Stef Wils and scored in a recent win over Willem II.
But the Antwerp manager, who is fearing a fire sale at the club as they desperately look to raise funds, concedes they may have to cash in on Balikwisha.
When asked directly about the possibility of selling the 24-year-old forward, he said: "That's possible, yes.
"I'm just working with the guys who are here at the moment. They all have the qualities to play here, so it would be foolish not to use them."
Balikwisha started his professional career with Standard Liege, scoring nine goals in 40 appearances during his breakout 2020-21 season.
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He played over 40 games in two of the last three seasons, with injuries limiting his playing minutes during the most recent campaign.
But the Belgian still managed four goals in 16 matches.
The fee is as yet unknown. Balikwisha is in the last year of his contracr and valued at around £6m by Transfermarkt.
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