Celtic make move to sign Mateusz Bogusz – sources

Celtic make move to sign Mateusz Bogusz – sources

Celtic are interested in signing LAFC playmaker Mateusz Bogusz with star man Matt O’Riley likely to leave the club, sources have told Football Insider.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Celtic have made an enquiry about signing the 23-year-old Polish midfielder.

Football Insider revealed (August 20) that O’Riley has informed Celtic that he wants to join Brighton if a deal can be agreed after the Premier League club’s £25 million plus add-ons offer.

Any deal to bring Bogusz to Celtic Park will be dependent on O’Riley leaving the club, but Celtic are said to be very keen on the former Poland Under-21 international.

Celtic eye Mateusz Bogusz as Matt O’Riley replacement

Bogusz has been used in multiple positions since swapping Leeds United last year for LAFC, including as a striker, which is why he’s managed to score 17 goals in 33 appearances so far this MLS season.

Like O’Riley, Bogusz is forward-thinking, capable of either finding a pass or carrying the ball forward on his own and bringing defenders out of position.

Celtic currently have plenty of midfield options, even if O’Riley were to leave, but they lack the type of player that would be able to contribute the same kind of output.

The Scottish champions have started the season well and will be the nation’s only representative in the Champions League following Rangers’ failure to qualify for the group stage.

Celtic submit offer to sign “box-to-box” in-demand midfielder for Rodgers

Hoping to seal their transfer window with late reinforcements, Celtic have reportedly made an opening offer to sign a midfield addition for Brendan Rodgers this summer.

Celtic transfer news

At the start of the summer, it looked as though the Bhoys were willing to settle on their title-winning side in the Scottish Premiership, but they soon got going with their reinforcements, welcoming the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah on a permanent basis. And the rumours have only continued since their arrivals, as those in Scotland look to end their summer on a high.

Midfield seems to be the focus too. Names such as Alvyn Sanches and Mateusz Bogusz linked to Celtic Park in recent weeks. Bogusz could be a particularly impressive addition, with his ability to play as both an attacking midfielder and centre-forward a trait that could replace Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi if both headed for the exit door in the next week.

O’Riley has, of course, been the subject of interest from Brighton and the player is now set to move to the Premier League side in a record Scottish exit worth an initial £25m that could rise to £30m.

According to French journalist Nabil Djellit, Celtic have submitted their first offer to sign Mahamadou Diawara amid his struggle for game time at Ligue 1 giants Lyon. The Scottish champions aren’t the only side reportedly interested, however, with Nantes, RC Lens and others all chasing the teenager’s signature in the closing days of the window.

Just 19 years old, Diawara is a similar prospect to Sanches, who Celtic have also been linked with. Clearly eyeing young midfielders full of potential, Diawara could yet emerge to become a replacement for O’Riley at the heart of Rodgers’ midfield.

“Brilliant” Diawara needs summer move

In need of game time after starting just four games in Ligue 1 for Lyon last season, Diawara could get the opportunity he so desperately needs at Celtic before the end of the month. Potentially following in the footsteps of former Frenchmen to complete moves to the Scottish giants such as the highly successful Moussa Dembele, the midfielder may yet realise his potential in Glasgow.

The 19-year-old has certainly earned plenty of fans from his time in France, including U23 scout Antonio Mango, who dubbed Diawara a “brilliant signing” and a “box-to-box” midfielder when Lyon secured his signature from Paris Saint-Germain just last summer.

Just one summer later and whilst things haven’t quite worked out for Diawara, Celtic have seemingly swooped in with an attempt to end the teenager’s nightmare. Diawara may well be one to keep an eye on in the final week of the transfer window.