All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Celtic appeared to be on course for more dropped points as they were 1-0 down at half-time against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers' side found themselves behind and the manager decided to be brave and bring deadline day signing Adam Idah off the bench in place of Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Ireland international turned out to be the hero for the Hoops as he scored the equaliser within six minutes and then made it 2-1 in stoppage time, shortly before Luis Palma made sure of the three points with a third goal.

He was not the only star of the show off the bench for the Scottish giants, though, as fellow substitute Hyun-jun Yang made a huge impact for Rodgers in the second half.

Adam Idah's performance in numbers

The Norwich City loanee brilliantly got on the end of a cross from Greg Taylor to head the ball into the far corner to make it 1-1 in the 51st minute, shortly after coming into the game as a substitute.

Idah was then impressive with the little he did get of the ball over the subsequent 40 minutes or so as he completed one of his two attempted dribbles and eight of his ten passes.

The Irish marksman, who won four of his seven duels in total, also did brilliantly to win a free-kick on the edge of the box by holding onto and then rolling the centre-back, who had to drag him down on the turn.

His most important touch then came in the 94th minute as the centre-forward expertly diverted Alistair Johnston's cross into the bottom corner with his left foot to put Celtic in front for the first time.

Hyun-jun Yang's performance in numbers

Yang also came off the bench during the second half and made his mark on the match alongside Idah, with a fantastic cameo in place of Nicolas Kuhn.

Sky Sports co-commentator and former Hoops striker Chris Sutton was quick to highlight the huge "impact" the South Korean wizard made on multiple occasions during the live coverage of the game.

The 21-year-old ace gave the defenders something to think about with his dynamic movements and clever play to create openings for the Scottish side.

His clever move inside opened the space for him to clip the ball into Johnston's path in stoppage time, which allowed the full-back to cross for Idah for the winner.

Yang, who actually had fewer touches (32) than goalkeeper Joe Hart (34), then registered an assist of his own with a fantastic ball over to the back post for Palma to tap in to make it 3-1 and secure all three points in the 96th minute.

In total, the young gem played just 29 minutes but was heavily involved in the second and third goals for Celtic, and created two chances and one 'big chance', on the right wing.

He also worked hard for the team to make two tackles and one interception, which shows that Yang put the effort in to go and take control of the game rather than waiting for his teammates to get him involved.

Therefore, the impressive forward made a huge impact for Rodgers alongside Idah and deserves big praise for his outstanding cameo at Fir Park.

The recent transfer window slammed shut in Scotland last Thursday but that may not be the end of Celtic's business ahead of the final few months of the season.

Latest Celtic transfer news

Whilst the window is not open for the Hoops to bring in players to the squad, teams in other continents are not bound to the same restrictions and can swoop in for Brendan Rodgers' men.

According to Football Insider, there are currently MLS teams monitoring James Forrest's situation at Parkhead as they eye up a possible swoop for the forward.

The report claims that the Scottish winger rejected six offers to leave the club on deadline day, with most of those coming from English Championship teams, but a move to North America could still be on the cards as their window does not shut until April.

His current contract does not expire until the summer of 2025 and Rodgers must now ruthlessly ditch the club hero if any of the interested MLS sides are prepared to pay a fee for his services.

The Hoops is reportedly on £19k-per-week at Paradise and this means that he is set to cost in excess of £1m to keep for the remainder of his contract.

Therefore, Celtic could rake in a fee, for however much they demand or the MLS teams are prepared to pay, as well as saving over £1m in wages on the winger to add to the summer transfer budget.

This may not sound like a lot but you never know how important that could be if the Hoops are pursuing a big target and need to stump up funds to land a marquee addition.

Why Celtic should sanction his departure

Forrest has been a terrific servant for the Hoops throughout his career, since coming through the academy ranks, but his time at the club appears to be coming to a natural end.

The 32-year-old forward, who was hailed as a "brilliant" ambassador for the club by Rodgers, has only started two matches in the Scottish Premiership so far this season and played 15 times in total in the division this term.

Last season, the veteran winger only featured in 16 top-flight games under Ange Postecoglou and started five of those outings for the now-Tottenham Hotspur.

Appearances

31

Goals

Six

Assists

Three

Big chances created

Two

Key passes

23

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish dynamo has not provided consistent quality in the final third for the Hoops over the past 18 months, although he has produced a respectable goal tally given his lack of starts.

The bottom line is that Forrest, who has racked up 483 appearances for the club in all competitions, is not playing regular football or making a big impact on the pitch for Rodgers.

It could, therefore, make sense for him to go and enjoy the end of his career playing week-in-week-out, whether that is in the MLS or elsewhere, and Celtic could save a good chunk of money in the process.

This is why the Northern Irish boss must ruthlessly ditch the long-serving Hoops hero in what appears to be in the best interests of all involved from a footballing perspective heading into the final few months of the campaign.

The date is January 31st 2023. It doesn’t feel like a poignant day in Arsenal’s history. That’s because it wasn’t. But for one player, it was a landmark occasion.

Indeed, it’s the date Jorginho joined Arsenal, moving from cross-city rivals Chelsea for a measly fee of £12m.

Considering Mikel Arteta had initially missed out on Moises Caicedo, this felt like an attempt to cover their backs.

Later that year, the Gunners would miss out on Caicedo again. Declan Rice, at a mighty £105m, was the preferred option.

Coincidentally, Caicedo filled the void Jorginho left behind at Stamford Bridge, albeit for £115m. Their stories since couldn’t be further apart.

Indeed, hours after Chelsea had been dispatched on their own patch, 4-2 by Wolves, Jorginho and Co were marching towards a 3-1 victory over title rivals Liverpool.

It could well be a poignant moment in the quest for league glory, with Arteta’s side closing the gap to Sunday’s opposition to two points.

All of that came after a transfer window in which Arsenal didn’t spend a penny. Nor did Liverpool in all fairness, but there could well be a war chest to spend in the summer.

A striker is required, with Ivan Toney reportedly the chief target, and a midfielder too; Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal want Zubimendi in the summer

Reports during January suggested that Arsenal were interested in procuring the signature of Zubimendi in the summer.

Those claims have since been backed up prior to the winter window closing last Thursday.

Ryan Taylor of the Express has suggested that the Real Sociedad star tops the club’s summer wish list, although Edu and his transfer team will need to fight away interest from German giants Bayern Munich.

It’s been noted in the play that the player has a release clause of £53m but there is a sense that money such as that would be better spent on a new centre forward.

After all, the aforementioned Toney has had an £80m valuation slapped on his head and another target in Victor Osimhen could cost upwards of £120m.

Why is this all relevant after Arsenal’s win over Liverpool, though? Well, because of Jorginho, of course.

How Jorginho compares to Zubimendi

The Italian was hardly a celebrated arrival when he joined the club a year ago but he has quickly become a much loved figure at the Emirates Stadium.

He proved exactly why on Sunday afternoon with a man of the match display that showcased to his manager that Arsenal already have their own version of Zubimendi.

Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson asked us at full-time to envisage the idea of the Spanish midfielder lining up alongside Rice, suggesting he could well be an ‘upgraded version’ of the 32-year-old.

The pair both bring a calming presence to proceedings. They’re not a tackling machine like Manchester City’s Rodri, nor are they a box to box midfielder like a certain Granit Xhaka was last term.

Goals + assists

0.22

0.24

Shots

0.89

0.72

Pass success

91%

85%

Key passes

0.89

0.43

Progressive passes

10.0

4.50

Shot-creating actions

2.00

1.72

Tackles won

0.89

0.91

% of dribblers tackled

53%

53%

Tackles + interceptions

3.33

3.01

Ball recoveries

4.89

5.84

Instead their job is to sit and protect. Look at the table; they’re rarely active in the final third but boast high totals for pass success, as well as tackles and interceptions.

Evidently their role is to recycle the play, to break it up and to make those around them look better. Described as a "mental monster" by Dr Rajpal Brar – a notable character on social media – £110k-per-week Jorginho did that to some aplomb against Liverpool, boasting the most touches of anyone in Arsenal red.

It was a total performance from the Italy international and one that Rice certainly lapped up.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the former West Ham star said: “Before I signed for Arsenal, the prospect of playing with him (Jorginho), [Thomas] Partey – Playing against them before, knowing how he controls games. I think he’s got qualities that not a lot of midfielders have.”

Well, if he enjoys a game playing in a double pivot with Jorginho, he’d certainly enjoy Zubimendi’s presence.

For now, Arsenal will be content with their classy veteran midfielder but in time they will need someone with fresher legs. When that time does occur, the 25-year-old Jorginho clone at Sociedad will be a superb replacement.

After what must have felt like an incredibly long time away from football following their festive season collapse, Arsenal stormed to a 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta's men looked like they were getting back to their best, with Gabriel Martinelli picking up a Thierry Henry-esque brace from the bench, although Bukayo Saka left the pitch without a goal or assist to his name.

The talismanic winger has seen his on-field impact dwindle somewhat over the last month or so – one goal in seven games – but with little in the way of genuine competition on the right wing, Arteta hasn't got much of a choice but to start him.

However, the latest player touted for a move to N5 could provide the challenge the Englishman needs, and with comparisons to Mohamed Salah, a challenge it would be.

Arsenal look to Germany for rightwing depth

According to reports from Spain, Arsenal are seriously interested in signing Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane in 2024, with Arteta seeing the German 'as the perfect signing to increase competition on the right wing'.

The report has also revealed that alongside the Gunners, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are keen to land the winger's signature this year.

While the competition from their Premier League rivals is far from ideal for the north Londoners, the fact that Sane's current contract with Bayern is set to expire next summer is.

A potential transfer fee has yet to be reliably reported, but the CIES football observatory values the 28-year-old at around €100m – £86m – and while that is undeniably expensive, it might prove to be value for money if he can replicate his performances in the red of Bayern in N5.

Arsenal pushing hard to sign their next Xhaka in potential £100m move

Arsenal are keen on bolstering the central areas of their team in 2024.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 21, 2024 How Sane compares to Saka and Salah

Now, for a modern-day winger, there are few – if any – more flattering comparisons than Liverpool's Egyptian king, Salah. However, according to FBref, the outrageously talented wideman is the third most similar player to the German in Europe's top five leagues.

This conclusion is reached by comparing where players rank for specific important statistics to other players in the continent's top five leagues. Then, those who are in similar percentiles for multiple metrics are placed together.

For example, the "world-class" German, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, sits in the top 2% of wingers for assists per 90, as does Salah. Another example is non-penalty expected goals, with the Bayern star sitting in the top 3% of players and the Liverpool star ever so slightly ahead in the top 1%.

That said, with Arteta's initial interest in Sane stemming from a desire to give Saka more competition and improve his front line, how do the pair's underlying numbers compare?

Well, FC Hollywood's "level raiser", as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, might just help to raise the level at the Emirates as in every attacking metric bar aerial duels won, he emerges victorious.

While the margin of superiority is small in some areas, such as passing accuracy and progressive carries, it is vast for many others, like successful take-ons, shots on target and non-penalty expected goals and assists per 90.

1.11

0.60

0.49

0.21

0.61

0.31

4.70

3.61

5.37

4.85

1.52

0.87

80.3%

75.9%

6.65

5.81

4.09

1.60

2.56

2.06

2.01

1.75

3.78

4.85

0.12

0.82

In contrast, Saka is the clear winner when it comes to ball recoveries and the number of times each player is dispossessed or miscontrols the ball.

Moreover, if the Hale End star was placed into a team as domestically dominant as Bayern, he might also be able to produce offensive numbers as impressive as Sane. Still, as things stand, the German has him beaten in that regard.

Ultimately, if Arsenal can get a deal for the former Manchester City ace over the line – helped by Arteta's previous relationship with him – they absolutely should, as the potential competition between him and Saka can only make the team stronger.

Southampton are reportedly considering tabling a huge bid for a young attacking midfielder with "excellent dribbling" ability, according to a fresh transfer update out of Italy.

Southampton transfer news

Saints are be red hot in the Championship promotion battle this season, with Saturday's 3-1 win away to Swansea City taking them into second place, where they will stay if Ipswich Town lose at Leicester City on Monday evening.

They continue to be linked with plenty of new signings to aid their quest to return to the Premier League, with Burnley's Manuel Benson one player who has been backed to move to St Mary's. He is thought to be seen as their alternative to Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.

Another rumoured target is West Ham defender Ben Johnson, who featured for the Hammers in their 2-2 draw away to Sheffield United on Sunday, but could look to seal a permanent move away from the London Stadium before the end of the month with his contract ticking towards its conclusion later this year.

There are some Southampton players who could leave the club during the January transfer window, however, with striker Che Adams continuing to be linked with a move away, with a switch to Premier League side Wolves mooted.

Southampton considering huge Matias Soule bid

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Southampton are "thinking of making a proposal" for Juventus ace Matias Soule.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who can also play on the wing, is currently on loan at fellow Serie A side Frosinone and has no interest in dropping down a tier, which does admittedly make a move to St Mary's feel unlikely. However, Sport Republic would reportedly "like to invest" in him, with the Italian media believing they are seriously considering a massive bid around €35 (£30m), either now or in the summer after earning promotion – which could then change the player's mind too.

Soule could be such an exciting signing by Southampton, even though the amount being mooted is likely to be out of their price range until promotion is secured, and it could such a statement of intent. Frosinone manager Eusebio Di Francesco has lauded him this season, saying "In certain aspects, he resembles Berardi, but he must learn to shoot on goal more often. He doesn’t lack qualities and has excellent dribbling, but in the game, he needs to be more lucid when making his choices. My thought is that his talent should not be limited; with time and experience, he will improve in many aspects."

It is encouraging to see Southampton being so ambitious in the transfer market, perhaps suggesting that they truly believe they will be back in the Premier League next season, and Soule's statistics so far this season highlight what a talent he is. He has scored nine goals in 19 Serie A appearances, also averaging 3.6 dribbles per game, while his key pass numbers suggest he deserves more assists than he actually has too.

Matias Soule's Serie A stats this season Total

Appearances 19 Goals 9 Assists 1 Dribbles per game 3.6 Key passes per game 2.5 Tackles per game 1.4 Pass completion rate 81.1% For now, it may have to be something of a long shot for Saints, but the idea of the young attacker suddenly sealing a move to St Mary's is a mouthwatering prospect.

Newcastle United reportedly now face an uphill battle to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer.

The Lowdown: Enquiry made

It has been reported that both the St. James’ Park faithful and Arsenal have now made an enquiry over the possibility of signing Calvert-Lewin this summer, as he is almost certainly going to leave Goodison Park if they end up getting relegated from the Premier League.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-5/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Unfortunately for the England international, his season has been hit by constant injuries, but he has shown his credentials in previous campaigns at the Merseyside club (Transfermarkt), while Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has even gone as far as to claim that the striker is ‘one of the best‘ in his position.

Thus, it is no surprise that Calvert-Lewin is subject to interest from a number of clubs in the top flight.

The Latest: Arsenal preferred

As per Football Insider, a recruitment source has now revealed that Calvert-Lewin has ‘told friends’ that he would prefer a move to the Gunners over the Magpies, and that he is ‘likely’ to leave the Toffees this summer, whether they end up relegated or not.

The Tyneside outfit may be able to compete with Mikel Arteta’s team in terms of how much money they can offer, but if the North London club end up qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, they will likely face an uphill battle to convince Calvert-Lewin to sign for them instead.

The Verdict: Don’t panic

There is no need for the Toon to panic if Calvert-Lewin decided to move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of St. James’ Park.

Given his injury problems this term, Eddie Howe may want to think twice about whether the 25-year-old would be worth the price tag, which should be heightened given his age and the fact that he is an English international.

Nonetheless, they will have plenty of other quality targets to look at, like Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, and so the board should just take their time with regards to Calvert-Lewin’s situation.

In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ Champions League winner NUFC are now eyeing here!

Celtic have not been particularly reluctant when it comes to spending money in the transfer market to bring new players to Parkhead in recent years.

And, one player that the club splashed out a fee of £1.7m on back in the 2014 January transfer window was Stefan Johansen.

During his time at Celtic Park, the midfielder scored 19 goals and provided 22 assists in 114 appearances across all competitions.

In the 2016 summer transfer window, Celtic then sold the Norwegian to Fulham in a deal worth around £2m.

With 81 appearances in the Championship across the 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns, the midfielder managed to score 19 goals and register 16 assists.

After that, the 31-year-old found himself on the move again, this time for a loan spell with West Bromwich Albion where he made 14 appearances before returning to Fulham in May 2019.

The 2019/20 season saw the former Hoops star play in 36 games but fail to find the back of the net.

Last summer saw Johansen bring an end to his time with Fulham by joining fellow London club Queens Park Rangers on a permanent deal worth just £630k after he had spent some time there on loan.

This season has seen the Norway international pick up more yellow cards (7) than goal contributions, despite making 34 appearances in the Championship.

To further highlight how unimpressive the midfielder has been going forward, only eight of the 23 shots at goal he’s had in the league have been on target.

His overall performances haven’t been much to shout about either, with WhoScored giving him a rather underwhelming season rating of 6.61.

Described as a player that had a reputation of having a “bad attitude” by former Celtic manager Ronny Deila, Johansen has gradually seen his transfer value and yearly goal contributions go down since his early Fulham days.

Taking all of this into account, it seems as though not only did the Parkhead club get a lot out of the player on the pitch, but they also pulled a financial blinder by selling him when they did.

With the way Celtic have shot to the top of the SPFL table this season under Ange Postecoglou, it’s hard to imagine that many supporters will have been wishing their club had kept hold of the £11k-per-week midfield man.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Celtic suffer major injury setback, it’s terrible news for Postecoglou

Despite Ruben Amorim’s admission that Manchester United could suffer once again next season, INEOS have now reportedly stepped up their move to sign a major upgrade who could change the Red Devils’ fate.

Amorim admits Man Utd will "suffer"

It was always unlikely to be a quick fix at Manchester United and, like all those before him, Amorim found that out the hard way at Old Trafford last season. Finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League, the Red Devils endured their worst-ever season and have entered this summer in desperate need of some hope,

Even after welcoming both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, however, Amorim has remained a realist – admitting to reporters that his side will suffer once again next season.

When asked about the potential for new arrivals, the Manchester United manager also aired on the side of caution, telling reporters: “At the moment, we need to be really careful when we sign a player.

“If we have to start the season with this squad, then I’m happy because all the players want to be here. That is the most important thing. With Bryan and Matheus, we are clearly a better team.”

Man Utd open talks to swap Garnacho for £45m ST who's one of Europe's "best"

The Red Devils are in discussions over a swap deal involving Alejandro Garnacho…

ByDominic Lund Jul 30, 2025

Alas, whilst their manager has kept his feet firmly fixed to the ground this summer, INEOS have reportedly made their first move towards welcoming what would be a dream arrival.

Man Utd make contact to sign Donnarumma

As reported by Sports Zone, Manchester United have now made contact to Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, as they look to land the ultimate Andre Onana upgrade.

Just months on from winning the Champions League and sitting in the top 10 of TNT’s Ballon d’Or rankings, contract talks between the French giants and Donnarumma have caused tension, and as things stand, the Italian is set to depart as a free agent next summer.

PSG may not wait to lose their 6’5 star in a free deal, however, and reports that they’re now targeting a move to sign LOSC Lille’s highly-rated Lucas Chevalier suggest that Donnarumma’s time at the club could yet come to an end a year earlier than expected.

If that is to be the case, then it’s United who could become the ultimate opportunists by swooping in to sign a major upgrade on Onana.

Starts

24

34

Saves P90

2.11

2.59

Save Percentage

67.6%

68.9%

Clean Sheets

4

9

Described as “intelligent” by PSG boss Luis Enrique, Donnarumma would be the best signing of the INEOS era so far and one that could drag Manchester United back into European football if he arrives this summer.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has just watched Spurs legend Son Heung-min confirm that he will be leaving the club in an emotional press conference, with the north Londoners poised to continue making headlines this transfer window.

Tottenham talks "underway" to hijack deal for PSG player alongside Palhinha

Spurs are after another player after sealing the Portugal international.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2025

It has been a fairly eventful summer at N17 thus far, having spent over £110 million in total on the signings of Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus.

Their recruitment expenditure would’ve been £170 million if Morgan Gibbs-White had sealed his £60 million move to Spurs – as was widely expected around three weeks ago. However, after a very unexpected chain of events, including legal threats from Nottingham Forest, his transfer was blocked, and he’s since signed a new contract at the City Ground.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tottenham are still in the market for a new playmaker and alternative to Gibbs-White, with chairman Daniel Levy also reportedly considering an audacious move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.

Their need to sign a new left-winger is also emphasised by Son’s now-imminent departure.

The South Korean burst into tears after he announced that this year would be his last in a Tottenham shirt, and the Lilywhites must now begin the search for his potential replacement after Son’s stellar decade in north London.

“Before we start, I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer,” said Son.

“Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge.

“I have been here for 10 years. It’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans. I have such amazing memories. I just felt like I need a new environment to push myself to get more out of me. I think I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a long time.”

As one big name looks set to depart, another comes through the door.

Joao Palhinha completes Tottenham medical with "formal steps" to follow

According to Fabrizio Romano, midfielder Joao Palhinha is on the verge of completing his move to Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich.

The Portugal international agreed a temporary deal with an option to buy for around £26 million next summer, and Romano claims that Palhinha has now completed his Tottenham medical with “formal steps” to follow between the clubs.

Palhinha’s debut campaign at Bayern, after he sealed a long-awaited move there from Fulham last year, wasn’t exactly ideal.

The 30-year-old fell down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order following a season blighted by injury and suspension, with Palhinha now returning to London just 12 months after waving goodbye to Craven Cottage.

Spurs will cover his full £166,000-per-week salary, but Frank is apparently “really excited” about signing Palhinha as he’s exactly the type of player Tottenham’s new head coach has been looking for (Fabrizio Romano).

Celtic have made contact with the agent of a “very offensive” young talent, as they look to snap him up before the end of the summer transfer window.

Rodgers coy over Celtic's transfer business

The Hoops begin the defence of their Scottish Premiership title this weekend, welcoming St. Mirren to Parkhead on Sunday afternoon.

While Celtic will again be the resounding favourites to be crowned Scottish champions at the end of the season, more business is needed before the summer transfer window concludes, with Brendan Rodgers coy when recently asked about potential incoming signings.

“Well, listen, for me, the focus is very much on what’s here. We know we have work to do, and I’m hopeful that we can get that done by the end of the window. But in the meantime, as I said, the players have worked fantastic over the course of this pre-season, some really good performances and growing and developing our spirit, which is going to be really important for us.”

Celtic do seem to be progressing with certain signings, however, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey set to join the club on a season-long loan from Manchester City. They have also been linked with a move for Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, who is struggling to be a part of Arne Slot’s plans at Anfield, as the Hoops target players from the top clubs in England.

Celtic make contact with attacking defender

According to a fresh update from Foot Mercato [via The Glasgow Times], Celtic have contacted Kassoum Ouattara’s agent over a move to Parkhead this summer.

The Monaco left-back is also wanted by rivals Rangers, however, with the two Scottish Premiership giants locking horns to get a deal over the line. Meanwhile, Augsburg, PSV Eindhoven, Toulouse, Metz and Torino are seen as possible suitors, too, with a permanent move preferred to a loan switch by his current club.

Ouattara could be such an eye-catching option for Celtic this summer, having seen his reputation soar at Monaco, making 33 appearances for the Ligue 1 side and also winning three caps for France Under-21s.

Celtic agree deal for seventh signing with British star en route to Glasgow

The Bhoys have found a solution to a problem position.

3 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 1, 2025

At just 20 years of age, he is also a player who should only get better in a Celtic shirt if they manage to sign him, with journalist Kai Watson describing him as a “very offensive” left-back, suggesting that he would be an exciting player to watch.

With Greg Taylor now departed, Ouattara could provide good competition for the returning Kieran Tierney, coming in as a young backup option to the former Arsenal man.