David Friel has delivered an update on Celtic’s transfer activity.
The Sun reporter has been ahead of the pack during the transfer window, being first to break the news of interest in Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh.
Celtic’s transfer activity has been light to date with just four signings made.
Between July 10 and August 12 Duran, Hogh, Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan were signed while Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels were sold.
Those deals have created a surplus of around £10m but left the squad short for the Champions League Play Off against LASK.
ONEILL’S DWINDLING CELTIC OPTIONS
Celtic were caught short on quality against the Austrian champions. When Martin O’Neill turned to the bench he only had players that he had overlooked last season to bring on.
Reo Hatate came off the bench for both matches against LASK despite not playing a minute in four domestic matches.
With that in mind it appears that midfield is the priority area for Celtic to strengthen.
The hoops have until 11pm on Wednesday to register their Europa League squad. Domestically they have until 5pm on Thursday to register signings with the SFA.
At 9.30pm on The Sun website Friel gave a breakdown of where Celtic stand going into the final hours of the transfer window.
OLIVER SORENSEN
CELTIC are closing in on a season-long loan for Danish midfielder Oliver Sorensen.
The 24-year-old Parma ace is poised to join the Hoops in a 12-month deal – with the option to make it permanent.
JOEL VAN DEN BERG
The Hoops are also set to snap up £3.5million PSV attacking midfielder Joel van den Berg on a long-term deal.
CELTIC GOALKEEPER TARGETS
Celtic have been in talks with Blackburn Rovers for keeper Balazs Toth – but Wolves’ Sam Johnstone has now emerged as a possible alternative.
NEILS NKOUNKOU
A left-back is high on the priority list, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Neils Nkounkou reportedly under consideration.
GVIDAS GINETIS
Celtic had resumed talks with Torino in recent days overlong-term midfield target Gvidas Gineitis.
But it would be a major surprise if the Lithuanian arrived on top of van den Berg and Sorensen.
In terms of departures it seems that Hatate and Johnny Kenny are the most likely to be on the move.
Both players seem to have interest from the English Championship where the transfer deadline in 11pm.
Celtic generally allow SNS and Sky Sports 15 minutes access to training the day before a match followed by the media conference with O’Neill and a player.
Supporters will be checking the training footage to see if there are any notable absentees.
Last night there were unconfirmed reports that Sorensen and van den Berg had arrived in Glasgow.
With medicals and international clearance required those deals look to be in the final stages.
If completed the new arrivals could be involved in Wednesday’s match at home to Aberdeen.
Still, we need a keeper, left back right back, centre back, a strong holding midfielder, an attacking midfielder and left winger.
Roll fu**in on 5pm on Thursday is all I can say !
Scattergun approach yet again just fire at everyone eventually you’ll hit someone i heard that it’s actually the directors who chase these transfers if so it would make sense as these clueless morons who wouldn’t know a pie from a bovril
Sorry just in case a director looks at this a piece is a round casing mostly filled with mince [ like Joel mvuka ] whereas a bovril is like creosote or [ tam cvancara ]
put your money we’ll end up with one out of date over the hill loan and nobody else