Celtic transfer news as Balikwisha timeline emerges and Ambrosino gets appraisal
Celtic will reportedly ramp up their attempts to sign long-term target Michel Ange Balikwisha if they are successful in qualifying for the Champions League.
The Royal Antwerp star has been heavily linked with the Hoops inside the past 12 months, with Brendan Rodgers on the hunt for a new wide player following Nicolas Kuhn 's £17million exit to Como.
And reports in Belgium claim that while he is still on their radar, theParkhead giants champions may have to negotiate the two-legged tie to get into the revamped group stage of Europe's premiere competition before they can make a move for the ex Belgium youth international.
Celtic will find out their opponents for the crunch tie in Monday's draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
The report also insists that Southampton have made no formal approach to land Baliwkisha, despite links with the 24-year-old.
Meanwhile, Celtic have been told exactly what reported target Giueseppe Ambrosino can bring to Rodgers' attacking arsenal.
The Hoops have been linked with a move for the Napoli youngster, who's future with the Serie A champions is unclear after spending the whole of last season out on loan with Frosinone in Serie B.
As well as Celtic, Serie A duo Cremonese and Cagliari and second tier sides Bari and Pescara are also said to hold an interest in the forward, who is into the final year of his contract in Naples.
And according to former Napoli number two Nicolo Frustalupi - who worked with the 21-year-old during his short tenure as assistant manager to Walter Mazzari at the Diego Armando Maradona between November 2023 and February 2024 - Ambrosino ticks all the boxes as an all-round striker.
Speaking to tuttomercatoweb, he said: "One of his best qualities, in my opinion, is his shot: it's powerful and accurate.
"It's truly his strongest asset. For a centre forward, he's also very technical: he communicates well with his teammates, he's good at laying off and moving the team forward. He's good in the air, especially when it comes to finishing.
"He's not exceptional at flicking on or in aerial duels to provide a point of support, but when it comes to finishing with his head, he's effective. In the Primavera, he was also very good at running forward."
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Jorge Costa death: Tearful Jose Mourinho pays tribute to former Porto captain
Reports in Portugal say the former centre-back, who was Porto's director of football, suffered a heart attack at the club's training ground. 'It's part of my history that goes,' an emotional Mourinho said at Fenerbahce's press conference ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord in Rotterdam. José Mourinho won in 2004 de Champions League met FC Porto. Jorge Costa was toen zijn aanvoerder. De voormalig profvoetballer overleed vandaag op 53-jarige leeftijd aan een hartstilstand. — Voetbalzone (@voetbalzonenl) August 5, 2025 'You have captains, you have leaders. It's not about the armband, it's about what you represent. 'Jorge was one of these guys I used to say 'clean the garbage' and let the coach do his job as a coach and not as a leader of the dressing room. 'That's perfection for a coach when the captain does this work. Of course I'm very sad, but let's forget football. 'Let's focus on him, Jorge, a young guy and his kids that I met when they were really kids and now, of course, they are grown men. 'O meu coração é azul e será sempre azul' #E2ERNO — FC Porto (@FCPorto) August 5, 2025 'Of course I am very sad but I'm here because if he could speak with me now he would tell me, 'Come on, do your press conference and tomorrow play the game and win mister. Forget about me'. 'That would be Jorge. So that's what I am going to try to do. Do my job today, do my job tomorrow, and then cry after.' Costa was a senior Porto player for 15 years between 1990 and 2005 and made 324 appearances for the club. As well as the Champions League, Costa won the UEFA Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles at Porto. He retired in 2006 after spending the final year of his career at Standard Liege in Belgium. 'He was a fantastic person who always got his point across. Everyone respected him because of his ability. He was a great lad.' Alan Curbishley pays tribute to Jorge Costa ❤️#cafc — Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) August 5, 2025 Costa won 50 caps for Portugal and spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02. Porto posted on X: 'Jorge Costa has left us. One of us, a leader, a captain, a role model. A symbol of FC Porto. Thank you for being FC Porto until the end. Goodbye, Jorge Costa.' Former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley said: 'He was a fantastic person who always got his point across. 'Everyone respected him because of his ability. He was a great lad.'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Russell Martin hails Rangers response as much-changed side hammer Viktoria Plzen
The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Fir Park on Saturday and Tavernier, midfielder Nicolas Raskin, attacker Kieran Dowell and striker Danilo were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and striker Cyriel Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. Oliver Antman, right, impressed on debut (Andrew Milligan/PA) Winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 14 minutes, Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval and summer signing Gassama's fourth goal in three European ties put the Govan side into a commanding lead for the return leg of the Champions League third qualifier next week. Boss Martin said: 'I really enjoyed it. I'm proud of the guys. 'We had a really difficult afternoon/evening on Saturday, just because there was not enough running in behind, aggression, intensity with the ball. 'We were not just ranting and raving, we showed a lot of clips and we tried to do a lot of learning in the meeting room and on the pitch in the last couple of days and they took it on brilliantly. 'The guys that came in the team were fantastic. We're going to need everyone. 'You don't get dropped from this team, people come in and out quite a lot because we need to be fresh. 'So it's not easy to leave people out. But the guys that came out of the team came on and did brilliantly as well. So I'm pleased. James Tavernier was a second-half substitute (Andrew Milligan/PA) 'The thing I'm annoyed about is the last 15 minutes, we probably dropped a bit of intensity, but it's understandable with the schedule we've had.' Martin claimed Tavernier was understanding of Martin's decision to leave him on the sidelines. He said: 'Yeah, yeah, he was great – all the guys. 'I say my piece, if they have a piece to say, then it's really respectful and really honest. 'But I think the way he played when he came on showed you everything you need to know. So there's been no problem and I don't envisage there being any problems moving forward. 'Dani and Dowell came out as well, and no one person's harder than the other in terms of conversation. Russell Martin celebrates victory with his Rangers players (Andrew Milligan/PA) 'It's not easy when you care about the players and you're desperate for them to do well, it's not an easy conversation ever. 'I'm just always honest with them, why they're coming out, why I pick someone else, and they just don't have to agree at all, but hopefully they respect a bit of honesty. 'And I think their reaction when they came on the pitch tonight says everything, they were great.'
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Russell Martin hails Rangers response as much-changed side hammer Viktoria Plzen
Russell Martin got the Rangers reaction he wanted in the 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox but insists captain James Tavernier was not dropped from the side which underperformed at Motherwell. The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Fir Park on Saturday and Tavernier, midfielder Nicolas Raskin, attacker Kieran Dowell and striker Danilo were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and striker Cyriel Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. Winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 14 minutes, Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval and summer signing Gassama's fourth goal in three European ties put the Govan side into a commanding lead for the return leg of the Champions League third qualifier next week. Boss Martin said: 'I really enjoyed it. I'm proud of the guys. 'We had a really difficult afternoon/evening on Saturday, just because there was not enough running in behind, aggression, intensity with the ball. 'We were not just ranting and raving, we showed a lot of clips and we tried to do a lot of learning in the meeting room and on the pitch in the last couple of days and they took it on brilliantly. 'The guys that came in the team were fantastic. We're going to need everyone. 'You don't get dropped from this team, people come in and out quite a lot because we need to be fresh. 'So it's not easy to leave people out. But the guys that came out of the team came on and did brilliantly as well. So I'm pleased. 'The thing I'm annoyed about is the last 15 minutes, we probably dropped a bit of intensity, but it's understandable with the schedule we've had.' Martin claimed Tavernier was understanding of Martin's decision to leave him on the sidelines. He said: 'Yeah, yeah, he was great – all the guys. 'I say my piece, if they have a piece to say, then it's really respectful and really honest. 'But I think the way he played when he came on showed you everything you need to know. So there's been no problem and I don't envisage there being any problems moving forward. 'Dani and Dowell came out as well, and no one person's harder than the other in terms of conversation. 'It's not easy when you care about the players and you're desperate for them to do well, it's not an easy conversation ever. 'I'm just always honest with them, why they're coming out, why I pick someone else, and they just don't have to agree at all, but hopefully they respect a bit of honesty. 'And I think their reaction when they came on the pitch tonight says everything, they were great.'
