Celtic News Round Up - 26/07/21 - 30/07/21

Celtic news round up - Week beginning Monday 26th July

It shows how inauspicious Celtic’s situation has become that the club was unsurprisingly knocked out of the Champions League by a team that was formed just 23 years ago. This was the first week in many where we haven’t had a new signing however there was a plethora of rumours and links. 

I spoke last week about right back and how it is a position Celtic have failed to address so far this summer. There may be a long term option on the way in the form of Aurelio Buta. Several outlets have stated that Celtic are willing to meet Royal Antwerp’s €3.5 million valuation of the Portuguese full back however the ever reliable Fabrizio Romano said on Twitch that Celtic’s pursuit of Buta has gone quiet after they opened discussions. He went on to state a deal has not yet been agreed. Days later though, the Italian tweeted “Aurelio Buta is still the main target as right-back, as reported days ago. Celtic are working to reach an agreement”. Celtic might have to move quick because Turkish outlet Fanatik revealed on Friday that Fenerbache are ready to table an offer for Buta. A potential alternative to Aurelio Buta is Josip Juranovic. Sky said Celtic are keen on bringing the Croatian to Glasgow although Spartak Moscow and Fiorentina are said to be interested in the 25 year old. Sports World Ghana said the Hoops are interested in another right back, with that being Benson Anang. The 21 year old has one cap for his country. Yan Couto was said to be of interest from Celtic last week according to Sky Sports although Portuguese outlet A Bola claimed Braga have made an approach for the Brazilian who played in LaLiga2 last season with Girona. Sacha Boey was another full back linked however he joined Galatasaray permanently this week. Let’s talk about players that are already at the club and not rumoured to be joining. 

Carl Starfelt is finally out of isolation and is ready to play for Celtic at Tynecastle on Saturday evening. The Swede was unveiled at Celtic Park earlier in the week saying “When Celtic call, you answer”. His new teammate Kyogo Furuhashi is also available for selection for Saturday. He was due out of isolation on Friday at midnight; it is highly unlikely he will feature though. Ryan Christie has impressed many with his form in pre season and manager Ange Postecoglou wants to reward him with a new contract. Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur says Celtic have already had talks with Christie’s representatives. The Scot has operated as a left winger so far this season, one such player who has been linked to Celtic in that position is Kyle Edwards. The former West Brom player confirmed he won’t be joining Reading this week after training with the Royals however he did go on trial with Bournemouth on Wednesday and played in their friendly with Chelsea. Kristijan Lovric is another winger who has been linked. Celtic have reportedly enquired to his club Gorica according to Stephen McGowan. The 25 year old has been extremely active on social media, recently following Celtic and liking posts related to the club. 

It has been a joy to see fans back in stadiums and Celtic confirmed this week that 24,500 supporters will be allowed into Celtic Park for the Hoops first home league game of the season, against Dundee. It was unfortunate yet unsurprising Celtic were knocked out by Midtjylland. The Bhoys will now face Czech side FK Jablonec in the 3rd round of Europa League qualifiers. A piece of good news in terms of Celtic results was the B side’s 5-1 victory over the University of Stirling. Adam Brooks, Rocco Vata, Owen Moffat and Ben Wylie scored the goals. Brooks bagged a double. 

The only official outgoing from Celtic this week was Barry Coffey. The young Irishman joined Cork City on loan until the end of the season and played 90 minutes in their 1-1 draw with UCD Dublin on Friday night. We know there has been a surfeit of rumours linking Odsonne Edouard with a move away this summer. Brighton have been the main team said to be interested and Duncan Castles said Graham Potter’s side have made an official bid of £18.5 million for Odsonne Edouard which could rise to £22.5 million with performance related bonuses. Celtic would have a 15% sell on clause. Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail said the Seagulls will wait until Celtic’s Champions League qualifier with Midtjylland to make an offer. In contrast, Adam Naylor of the Athletic said Brighton haven’t made an offer or even an inquiry for the Frenchman. Naturally, when a player of Edouard’s calibre departs, replacements will be linked. One of those is Gianluca Lapadula. Libero, a newspaper from Lapadula’s homeland states Celtic have made an offer for the Peruvian striker who is valued at €8.5 million however these claims where rubbished the next day by the Benevento sporting director who said the club haven’t received any concrete offers for the 31 year old as of yet. Two strikers from Ligue 1 have reportedly been of interest from Celtic. Those are Jean Kevin Augustin of FC Nantes who was linked by Homme Du Match and M’Biaye Niang. Footmercato say Celtic, along with Anderlecht and Nottingham Forest, are interested in the Rennes forward. Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio revealed to his 1.3 million Twitter followers the Senegalese was close to joining Venezia on loan. That was all the strikers linked with Celtic this week. Let’s get on to goalkeepers. 

Vasilis Barkas didn’t give the best showing of himself in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Midtjylland as well as in the Hoops’ 6-2 defeat to West Ham United. Scott Bain was drafted in for the second leg against Midtjylland however the 29 year old does not look like the most convincing or commanding keeper Celtic need. Joe Hart has been linked to Celtic and it looks like a deal that could happen. Fabrizio Romano’s latest update on the move is as follows: “Negotiations progressing for Joe Hart to join Celtic, as revealed yesterday. Agreement now close to be reached for the English goalkeeper. Tottenham are open to let Hart leave and save his salary, after signing Gollini as new GK”. Sky Sports also reported the deal and as well as Hart, Ben Foster is also an option for Celtic. 

We round off this week with two final pieces of transfer news. Greg Taylor, Boli Bolingoli and even Adam Montgomery are options at left back for Celtic. However, according to the Daily Record, the Bhoys are keeping tabs on Derby County left back, Lee Buchanan. Ko Itakura is on international duty with Japan at the Tokyo Olympics. Ryan Taylor of the Express said Celtic are interested in a loan move for the 24 year old centre back. Man City are reportedly looking for a substantial loan fee for the player who has one year left on his deal. After the defeat to Midtjylland, there has been a lot of negative talk from Celtic fans about the board, Dom McKay and major shareholder Dermot Desmond. The Daily Record reported before the loss that the Irish billionaire has been more hands on and involved in the transfer market with Celtic this summer. Whatever happens, if Ange Postecoglou doesn’t get the backing he needs throughout the rest of the summer, things could turn for the worst on and off the field.