Celtic January transfer news LIVE: Arsenal youngster Bielik on Bhoys’ radar


Arsenal youngster on Celtic radar


Arsenal defender Krystian Bielik is on Celtic’s radar as the Scottish champions look to seal a loan move, according to a report in the Daily Record.

The 20-year-old spent a portion of last season on loan at Championship outfit Birmingham City and is said to be keen on a temporary move away from the Emirates in order to get first-team football.

The Bhoys are reportedly in the market for defensive reinforcements this January, but they will face competition for Bielik, who has also been linked with a return to his former club Legia Warsaw.


Rodgers plays down defensive signings


Virgil van Dijk Celtic to Southampton

Brendan Rodgers has hit back at criticism that Celtic need to strengthen in defence, with some supporters and media suggesting the Bhoys should add a new centre-back in January.

Rodgers claims that even when Celtic had Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Manchester City defender Jason Denayer on their books, they still found it difficult in Europe.

“There’s a lot of focus on our boys defensively, but there has to be a bit of respect and reality as to who they are playing against,” Rodgers is quoted as saying by the Scottish Sun.

“Celtic didn’t qualify for the Champions League and they had Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer at centre-half. Who do people want Celtic to get? If we can’t qualify with those two…

“I hear a lot of talk about ‘get a new centre half’. But defensively our team I think is very, very good, albeit we could always be better.

“I think there is always a light shone around our central defence but we are a collective. We defend as a team and press as a team.”


Celtic to miss out on Musonda


Charly Musonda, Chelsea

Celtic are set to miss out on Charly Musonda, with Chelsea hoping that the Belgian opts to move to another Premier League club on loan.

Goal‘s Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella reports that Musonda has been attracting attention from the likes of Newcastle United, Bournemouth and West Brom, while La Liga ouftit Real Betis are also among his admirers.

The Bhoys had previously been keen to land the 21-year-old midfielder, but it looks like they are out of the running.

Read the report from Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella right here on Goal!


‘Rodgers right to protect Dembele from transfer talk’


Jerome Boateng Bayern Munich Moussa Dembele Celtic

Brendan Rodgers is doing the right thing by trying to protect Moussa Dembele from the distraction of transfer speculation, according to former Celtic star Charlie Nicholas.

Dembele has been linked with a move away from the Scottish champions this January, with the likes of Brighton and Everton said to be interested in the French striker.

Nicholas, who enjoyed two spells at Celtic Park, believes that the 21-year-old looks like he wants to leave the club, but, recalling his own experience, says that Rodgers is handling the situation well.

“I scored 48 goals that season, but the constant transfer talk did get to me, especially when I lined up for Scotland at Wembley,” Nicholas wrote in his column for the Daily Express.

“So Brendan is quite right to protect Moussa because I am sure he will be suffering as he waits to discover what path his career will take.”


Celtic in ‘no rush’ to sign PSG loanee


Odsonne Eduouard Celtic

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says that there is ‘no rush’ to sign Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain, indicating that he will revisit the possibility at the end of the season.

Edouard is currently on loan at Celtic Park from PSG until the end of the season and the Scottish champions have the option of making the deal permanent.

Read the story in full right here on Goal!


Lazio join hunt for Simunovic


Giovani Lo Celso Jozo Simunovic Celtic 12112017

Serie A side Lazio have identified Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic as a possible replacement for Stefan de Vrij, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The paper reports that Simunovic is on a shortlist being prepared by the Rome outfit in the event of De Vrij’s departure, which also includes Sao Paolo defender Rodrigo Caio.

Lazio are not the only club said to be keen on the 23-year-old, with the Daily Record reporting that Crystal Palace and Burnley are also interested.

Simunovic, who joined Celtic from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, has struggled to claim regular starting position for the Bhoys this term, largely due to missing a chunk of the season through injury.


‘No bids for Dembele’ – Rodgers


Moussa Dembele Brendan Rodgers Celtic

Celtic have ‘not had one bid’ for Moussa Dembele, according to Brendan Rodgers, despite speculation that he close to leaving the club.

Dembele has been linked with a number of clubs across Europe and there were reports during the festive period that Premier League side Brighton had made a bid for the 21-year-old.

Those reports have been dismissed by Brighton manager Chris Hughton and Rodgers has since emphasised that, while there have been plenty of enquiries, the Scottish outfit had not received any concrete offers for the striker.

Read the story in full right here on Goal!


Cifti joins Motherwell on loan


Nadir Ciftci Celtic 29072016

Motherwell have completed the loan signing of Nadir Cifti, with the move being officially confirmed by Celtic on Tuesday.

The Turkish striker, who previously spent time on loan at Plymouth Argyle, joins the Well on a temporary deal until the end of the season.

Cifti, 25, joined Celtic from Dundee United in 2015 but has struggled to nail down a starting place at Celtic Park.


West Ham battle Bhoys for £15m Allen


Joe Allen Stoke City 06012018

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West Ham have emerged as one of Celtic’s biggest rivals for Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen and are willing to spend around £15 million for his services, according to the Daily Mail .

Brendan Rodgers had made the Wales international one of his main targets, with the Bhoys currently the bookmakers’ favourites to sign Allen, but face competition from David Moyes, who is looking to strengthen his midfield during the January transfer window.

However, Stoke seem unwilling to do business with West Ham, and have indicated that the 27-year-old is not for sale at any price.

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