Biggest hint yet that Celtic could FINALLY seal deal for long-term transfer target as manager admits star could be sold
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
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.
Sign up for the Celtic newsletter
Sign up
2
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.
Former Celtic star Greg Taylor stuns PAOK team-mates as he belts out Abba tune for his initiation song
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.
2
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
McGuinness urges Donegal to 'make the chance count'
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness said the ghosts of 2014 haunted him for a long time but are now at the back of his mind as his team prepare to face Kerry in Sunday's All-Ireland football Kingdom won by three points in the 2014 decider, which proved to be the Glenties man's last game in charge, but 10 years later he returned to the Donegal sideline after moving into soccer with Celtic before spells in China and the United home is where the heart is and the opportunity to manage Donegal for a second time proved too good to turn up for that 2014 loss may have been part of the motivation, but now back in the job, it's all about what's ahead, rather than what has been and gone."Your heart is always in your county so when the opportunity came and the conversations came up about coming back, they take legs in your mind," he told BBC Sport NI."I'm delighted we had those conversations and got back on the horse, so hopefully we can give it our best shot."The 2014 final was stuck in my head a long time, probably up until the point I came back in. You're always thinking about that, but as a manager, a coach or a player, the two weeks' [build-up to the final] is not a time for reflection. The time for reflection is when the final whistle goes." McGuinness is not the only recent returnee - as his captain from the 2012 All-Ireland success, Michael Murphy, came out of retirement to bolster the squad this year, having initially stepped away in 2022."It's brilliant to have him," said the Donegal boss."He's been immense and any of the younger lads, he's been brilliant with them. It's fantastic to have the footballer, but also the leader. Hopefully there's another big day in Michael."It will require a big performance from Murphy and the rest of his team-mates if they are to finish the job on Sunday as they come up against a Kerry side laden with is plenty to ponder for the Donegal boss, not least what to do with David Clifford, but it is a challenge he says they all must embrace."The challenge is fairly immense," he acknowledges."When you get the pen and paper out to think about David Clifford, it can be a blank page for a long time. He is an elite player and one of the best we've ever seen, if not the best. His brother [Paudie] and Sean O'Shea are all elite players who, on any given day, can beat you, but David is a bit special. The challenge he and those other lads will be huge, but that's where we want to be."The boys have done really well to create this opportunity and we are just hoping they can show their best colours and make it count."
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
I see conflicting Celtic transfer strategies at play and board have five weeks to get back on Brendan Rodgers' wavelength
Jacko told Hotline Live that the Parkhead hierarchy face a losing battle if they don't match their manager's ambition The Celtic board have five weeks to match Brendan Rodgers ' ambition or they could be facing a losing battle when it comes to the boss signing a new contract. Seemingly competing transfer strategies at Parkhead were discussed on Record Sport's Hotline Live tonight, and our man Keith Jackson reckons things could come to a head if Rodgers feels those above him have played it safe with signings. The champions splashed £26million on new faces last summer as Rodgers was well backed to bring in the Bhoys he wanted. Arne Engels was a club record fee with Adam Idah not far behind, while Auston Trusty wasn't exactly cheap at £6million. The trio helped deliver two trophies and crucially for Rodgers, progression in the Champions League. but not everyone is sold on the decision to spend big given what they've seen. And Keith suspects the Parkhead hierarchy have perhaps started to revert back to a more frugal policy this summer, which if it continues with Celtic having a playoff showdown to negotiate to unlock the Champions League riches this season, then this could be Rodgers' last at the helm with his deal up in the summer. "They just need to match his ambition," he said. "I don't think there's a number that Celtic need to spend above it or below it and that would change anything. "It's entirely a matter of Brendan Rodgers identifying the players he believes will make his first team stronger and Champions League ready, as far as any Scottish team can be Champions League ready. "And then Celtic's board showing the same level of ambition and commitment, going out there and getting the deals done. That's the key part. "This talk of £1.5m bids (for Go Ahead Eagles winger Jakub Breum) smacks of the first-tier transfer strategy or philosophy that we think Celtic's board might be employing this summer - which gets away from how Brendan Rodgers wants it done. "That is taking more of a risk, being prepared to pay a bigger premium and hope that you get your financial return on that. "His problem is, he spent £26m last summer and I'm not sure that any one of the three players Celtic signed would turn a profit if the board decided to sell them tomorrow. "That's where it conflicts with the well-known model that Celtic's board have employed over the years. "They went a different way last summer, but Brendan Rodgers can conversely point to the amount of money they got in through the Champions League to justify that that money was spent. "There's a lot of potential in Arne Engels, same with Adam Idah but he has a lot to prove this season. Aaron Trusty could have a big season, and Brendan Rodgers has proven he can improve players if he's given time to work with them. "But these are ones that count against the Brendan Rodgers model. "We now have five weeks until the end of the transfer window, and these will be five make-or-break weeks in terms of Brendan Rodgers and his relationship with the Celtic board. Not so much personal relationship, but his working relationship. "They will have to show signs before the end of this transfer window that they are prepared to match his ambition. If they don't do that, then persuading Brendan Rodgers to commit for the longer haul is going to be difficult."
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
What channel is Celtic vs Ajax? Live stream, TV channel and team news for Como Cup clash
The Scottish champions are in Italy for their warm-up games before the Premiership campaign gets up and running next weekend As football settings go, they don't come much more spectacular than the serene shores of Lake Como. After a gruelling week under the Portuguese sun, Celtic have jetted off to one of Europe's most picturesque locations for the latest leg of their pre-season tour. Brendan Rodgers' side are in Italy for the inaugural Como Cup - and they're eyeing a mini summer Treble. The Hoops have already lifted the Cork Super Cup and adidas Trophy, and next up is a glamour tie against Dutch giants Ajax at the stunning Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. It's a knockout-style clash on Thursday, with Celtic set to face either Como or Al-Ahli in the final - or third-place play-off - over the weekend. Here, Record Sport has everything you need to know ahead of the big game. Where and when is Celtic vs Ajax? Celtic face Ajax at the stunning Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como on Thursday July 24. Kick-off is at 7:30pm (UK time). Is the game on TV? Unfortunately, the match won't be broadcast live on any TV channel in the UK. Is there a live stream? Yes, you can. The match will be streamed live on Celtic TV. Fans can subscribe to the club's official channel from £50 per year. At the moment, there is no pay-per-view option, meaning you must hold an annual or international subscription to watch the game. Where else can I follow the action? You can keep up with all the action right here on We'll be running a live blog with all the pre-match build-up and team news, and every kick of the ball once the clash gets underway. After the game, we'll have all the reaction from managers and players, as well as player ratings, talking points and a whole lot more. Team news Alistair Johnston was spotted back in pre-season training at Lennoxtown on Tuesday after enjoying an extended break following his international exploits with Canada. Cameron Carter-Vickers was also pictured back on the grass after a minor knee operation and could feature in Italy. New Bhoy Shin Yamada might make his debut after finalising his £1.5million move from Kawasaki Frontale last week. However, long-term absentee Jota and defender Stephen Welsh both remain sidelined.
