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Clubs line up to sign former Celtic £25m export

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Clubs line up to sign former Celtic £25m export

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 03: Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

A number of clubs are vying to sign former Celtic star Jota in the final weeks of the transfer window. The 25-year-old has struggled since swapping Scotland for Saudi and it appears that both he and Al Ittihad are keen for parties to part ways.

Reports from France have suggested that a number of teams are keen on the player, namely Rennes and Marseille. However, the major stumbling block for any suitor is the attacker’s wage packet, which is reportedly close to £200k.

🚨 Marseille and Stade Rennais are both targeting a deal to sign Jota from Al-Ittihad. 🇵🇹

(Source: @MohamedTERParispic.twitter.com/VOs2XP2Rgw

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 19, 2024

French outlet SportZone claims that Wolves and Sporting Lisbon are vying for the signature of the player with Jorge Mendes pulling the strings.
Jota has made just 22 appearances in all competitions in Saudi, scoring four goals and assisting once. The form and (lack of) adulation in the Saudi Pro League is a far cry from his time at Celtic, where he produced extraordinary moments in the Hoops. During a recent meeting with Celtic fans in Lisbon, Jota said that he wasn’t sure but that he loved Celtic when asked if he was coming back.

During two years in Glasgow, Jota 83 appearances for Celtic as they won five trophies. In those games, he scored 28 goals and assisted on 26 occasions, which resulted in links to a number of clubs.

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

Motherwell signing plans chat with Celtic boss Rodgers after prior praise as Rangers hero provides move advice

Tawanda Maswanhise | Motherwell Times

He has signed for Motherwell after time at Leicester City.

Tawanda Maswanhise hopes to catch a word with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers after his move to Motherwell – as he opens up on the potential of an extended Fir Park stay.

The attacker impressed off the bench against Kilmarnock in a 1-0 Premier Sports Cup last 16 win on Sunday, providing a cross for Moses Ebiye to head an extra-time winner home. He joins Stuart Kettlewell’s team after time in the Leicester City academy, where Celtic boss Rodgers was impressed during his time in charge of the Foxes.

Rodgers said in 2021 after including him in his Premier League squad for a match against Man Utd: “He’s a young player I like. I’ve seen him playing for the Under-18s. He’s quick, he’s direct. He’s got a lot of strengths and he’s got a lot of potential, but a lot of work to do.

“Bringing in young players, like we’ve done with Luke before, it gives them the experience. To feel the preparation, to sit on the bench, to see the quality of the players, it gives him a flavour of the level and preparation he needs to be here. That was the idea.”

Motherwell don’t face Celtic until October but Maswanhise wants to show his ex-gaffer how much he has improved while in claret and amber. He said: “I was always in and out but it was good when I was getting coached by Brendan. He taught me a lot to be fair.

“I’ll have a word with him. Hopefully it’s positive and a little catch-up would be nice. I was a young 18-year-old when he brought me into the team and now I am 21. I am a lot faster, stronger and a bit smarter.”

Another helpful voice in helping him get a handle on life at Motherwell was Calvin Bassey. The defender joined Rangers fresh out the Foxes academy, going on to become an Ibrox favourite on their run to the 2022 Europa League final. Rangers then sold him in a deal worth almost £23m to Ajax.

Maswanhise said: “I am good mates with Calvin and his story was quite good. His journey, did well at Rangers, got his move, but it’s been good so far. (He told me) be aware of the shouting from behind, the grief, the physicality here is quite strong. I’ll get used to it.”

Kettlewell was impressed by the forward in bounce matches and training, before handing him a six-month deal with the option to extend. When asked if he wanted to stay at Fir Park past his initial terms, Maswanhise left that in the hands of the manager, as he opened up on his move and a tough introduction in a friendly vs Everton.

He added: “It’s the gaffer’s choice. If he wants to keep me in the team, I want to assist and score goals etc. Hopefully that can go through. It’s been a long process over the summer, training by myself. It’s not been easy coming in, going into full-time after having a big break. But it’s been good, I’ve been keeping up with the lads and getting to know them as well. It’s been good.

“There was a friendly against Everton last week. I got the call the night before the game, playing against top Premier League players. Idrissa Gana Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucouré just running me about, but got there in the end!

“I don’t think Scotland was in mind. I wanted to stay in England, but the options were getting wider as the transfer window opened. My first day or night was that first game so it was a nice welcome. All the players are nice. It’s been good, nobody has given me grief yet so hopefully it stays like this.”

Celtic transfer news bulletin as Matt O’Riley replacement lined up and Hoops ready to resist late Hatate swoops

The latest on O’Riley as Brighton accelerate their interest in the Celtic playmaker

Celtic are braced for Matt O’Riley’s exit after Brighton ramped up the bidding war for the Parkhead playmaker – and they have a contingency plan in place if he does leave.

The English Premier League outfit have made their move to open talks over a £25m plus move for the Denmark international. Celtic won’t allow O’RIley to leave on the cheap after seeing off several attempts rom Serie A Atalanta – with the Italians eventually giving up the chase following a final bid of around £20m. Brighton will have no problems meeting the asking price and the Hoops understand it will be difficult if the 23-year-old is sweet on the switch.

O’Riley has insisted he is in no hurry to leave Celts but has long term ambitions of playing in one of Europe’s major leagues, having already attracted serious attention from Italy, Spain and Germany. Several other clubs in England are also in the hunt but Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls have shot to the front of the queue with less than a fortnight remaining in the window. Celts have been anticipating a major move for the star man – and have several alternatives lined up if the midfielder does depart.

Augsburg sensation Arne Engels is near the top of the list and the Hoops have already held tentative talks with representatives of the 20-year-old – who could cost up to £10m. Parkhead chiefs won’t baulk at the fee having already coughed up £8.5m up front for Adam Idah to return to Glasgow, with boss Brendan Rodgers admitted he is determined to channel his transfer kitty into quality rather than quantity.

The Irishman is also looking to hold on to other key men in his squad and the club are looking to resist any offers this summer for Reo Hatate, despite talk down south of interest from Leicester City. The Japan star also has long term hopes of playing in England but is understood to be focused on building his fitness this term after an injury hit campaign last time out. Meanwhile Hoops defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is looking to maintain Celtic’s blistering start to the season and fight for a clean sweep this term.

The USA cap was part of the Treble winning side under Ange Postecoglou and bounce back from injury to claim the Double last time out. Celts roared into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup wit their win against Hibs at the weekend and Carter-Vickers is out to add the trophy to his collection after missing out 12 months ago.

He said: “Obviously, last season was disappointing in this competition, but every season you want to win every competition. The aims are no different to what they were last season or previous seasons, but it’s definitely one that we want to win this year.

“I think we’re definitely capable of more. We’ve started well, it’s kind of been a continuation from pre-season, but hopefully as the season goes on and we continue to work together, we’ll improve and get better. I

“It’s all good doing it in the first three, four, five games, but I think the key is consistency. If we can maintain that level and improve a little bit throughout the season, then that would be great.”

Carter-Vickers has been thrilled by Celtic’s blistering start to the campaign but warned there is more to come from Rodgers’s men.

He said: “I think so. Our performance so far have been good, as well as the ones in pre-season. It’s early, so for us it’s just about continuing to try to work and try to improve. That’s what we’ve been doing so far, and if we continue doing that we’ll be in a good place.

“Since it’s the manager’s second year now, I think it’s only natural that the more time he gets with the group, the more he can implement the way he wants to play and the way he wants to train and work.

“I think we’re in a good place. We haven’t had any injuries yet, we’re just continuing to crack away and try to get better.”

 

Dream Wijndal alternative: Celtic working on deal to sign £3m star

Celtic secured their place in the next round of the League Cup on Sunday with a 3-1 win for Brendan Rodgers‘ side against Hibernian at Parkhead.

The Hoops were knocked out of the competition at this time last season by Kilmarnock but ensured that they picked up the win and progressed thanks to two goals from Daizen Maeda and one from Nicolas Kuhn.

It was the second win against Hibernian this month after the two sides had met the previous weekend in the Scottish Premiership, with goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor sealing all three points at Easter Road.

Viljami Sinisalo will have to wait for his debut between the sticks but there was a second debut for Idah, whilst Kasper Schmeichel and Paulo Bernardo had already made their respective debuts earlier this month in the Premiership.

There could be more debuts to come for the Scottish giants over the coming weeks, as the summer transfer window does not officially slam shut until the end of the month.

Rodgers and the club’s recruitment team still have a bit of time left to make further signings for the Hoops, and they reportedly have their eye on a new defender to bolster the squad.

Celtic keen on Premier League full-back

According to Football Insider, Celtic are working on a deal to sign left-back Owen Beck from Liverpool on a permanent deal before the end of the window.

The report claims that the Hoops are hoping to see off competition from a host of clubs in the English Championship to land the full-back’s signature, with Queens Park Rangers named as one of the interested parties.

It states that the Premiership champions want to sign the 22-year-old talent on a permanent basis and that the Premier League giants are looking for a fee within the region of £3m.

Football Insider reveals that the Bhoys are in the market to add another left-back to their squad because Greg Taylor is currently the manager’s only senior option in that position, with Alexandro Bernabei currently out on loan.

The outlet adds that Celtic see Beck as a player with ‘huge’ potential who could come in and provide the Scotland international with competition for his place in the starting XI this season.

However, the Welsh dynamo is not the only left-back on the club’s radar. Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph recently claimed that they are also interested in Ajax’s Owen Wijndal.

The journalist claimed that the Dutch giants are open to cashing in on the left-footed defender and that Celtic have made an initial inquiry about his availability.

Owen Wijndal’s form last season

The 24-year-old defender struggled to nail down a starting position at Ajax in the 2022/23 campaign, with just 15 starts in the Eredivisie, and was sent out on loan to Royal Antwerp last term.

It was a chance for the full-back to go and play regular football week-in-week-out in the Belgian top-flight and he enjoyed a solid season down the left flank.

However, it was not an outstanding year for Wijndal and there may be concerns that he would not come in at Parkhead and offer genuine competition for Taylor.

23/24 season

Owen Wijndal (Pro League)

Greg Taylor (Premiership)

Appearances

29

35

Goals

1

3

Assists

0

4

Big chances created

1

11

Duel success rate

57%

52%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

2.2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, their defensive statistics were similar at league level last term but the Celtic star’s attacking work was vastly superior.

As a dominant team in the Premiership, the club’s full-backs must be able to carry an attacking threat to break down low blocks and it does not appear as though Wijndal does.

His statistics in the Champions League for Antwerp last term are further evidence of that. The Dutchman did not create a single chance for his teammates in six outings in the competition, with zero key passes in five starts.

His form in Europe and domestically for the Belgian outfit suggests that Wijndal would not offer much in possession for the Hoops, which is not ideal when Taylor has the quality to be a difference-maker in the final third.

Beck would be a dream alternative to Wijndal as a £3m signing from Liverpool due to his Premiership experience and attacking quality from left-back.

What Owen Beck could bring to Liverpool

Whilst the 24-year-old Dutchman struggled to provide much creativity down the left flank for Antwerp last season, Beck spent the year on loan at Dundee and provided a big presence at the top end of the pitch.

Liverpool sent the young defender out on loan to the Premiership and he proved his quality in and out of possession throughout the season, earning himself a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.

This means that Celtic would be signing a player who has already shown that he can compete week-in-week-out in the Scottish top-flight, whereas Wijndal has no prior experience in the division, and this suggests that the Welshman could hit the ground running at Parkhead.

The 22-year-old, who was once described as a “spectacular” left-back by talent scout Jacek Kulig, made an impact in the final third with 2.3 key passes per game and six ‘big chances’ created in 25 league outings.

23/24 season

Owen Wijndal (Pro League)

Owen Beck (Premiership)

Appearances

29

25

Goals

1

2

Key passes per game

0.6

2.3

Assists

0

4

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

3.9

Duel success rate

57%

55%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Beck has the ability to offer far more than Wijndal in possession due to his ability to score goals and create chances from a left-back position.

He also made 1.3 more tackles and interceptions per game last term, whilst winning a similar percentage of his physical duels, and this suggests that Beck could win possession back more frequently through tackles and interceptions for Celtic.

Therefore, the £3m-rated star could be a dream alternative to the Ajax defender because of his Premiership experience, defensive work, and attacking quality, which is why Rodgers must push for this deal to be completed this month.

Fee Agreed As Celtic Man Heads To Championship

Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly will move to Millwall this week, with a fee now agreed between the two clubs.

According to the Daily Record, Kelly is set to move to the Lions despite being offered a new deal to stay. Brendan Rodgers is believed to have been willing to increase the teenager’s wages by £5,000 per week, but that won’t be enough to convince him to stay in the SPFL.

It was revealed earlier this week he had agreed a move to Millwall in January. “Dan has agreed to join the club. A deal has been agreed and he has signed. He officially joins us in January,” Lions boss Neil Harris said on Tuesday. “He is a young player that we think has got huge potential. He is a very good player. When Dan first walks into the building he is not going to be someone that everyone should expect to go straight into the team.”

Instead, he’s now set to move to London this week, where the struggling Lions will pay around £400,000 plus add-ons to secure his early release. While the youngster signed a pre-contract with Neil Harris’s side this week with a view to a January move, he was set to play out the rest of his contract in the Lowland League with Celtic B. Millwall now want to speed up the process, hence the freshly-agreed terms.

After a tough start to the season, Harris clearly feels he needs the player sooner rather than later. It’s reported he is now in London, with a medical scheduled for the next couple of days. Representatives of the Lions are hoping that Kelly will be able to face Hull City in the Championship next weekend.

It’s been a frustrating summer for the player. He came through the youth ranks at Parkhead and has played for Scotland’s Under 19 side, but he turned down a fresh deal and was farmed out to play for their B team. This came after he broke into the first team picture last season, scoring in the 7-1 victory against Dundee in February.

Writer’s View

Kelly is a special talent who has had to make a big decision around his future. Hailing from East Kilbride, you could be forgiven for thinking that Celtic and Scotland would be the best place for him to develop, but he’s seemingly set on the bottom end of the Championship with Millwall.

They’ve made a big call also. £400,000 is not a small amount of money for a player they would have got much cheaper in January, but Harris might be a manager under pressure right now, given their poor start to the season. Perhaps he sees the central midfielder as a key part of his battle against relegation, which is where it feels the Lions might be fighting this season.

Millwall are now set to have a medical for Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, according to a report from Football Insider. The Spurs defender was recalled from his loan spell at German club Augsburg today and is now set to spend the remainder of the campaign at Millwall after a…

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