Michel Ange Balikwisha locked in 'advanced talks' with mystery club as Celtic target on brink of transfer exit
In-demand Michel-Ange Balikwisha is locked in advanced talks with a mystery Ligue 1 side who have already qualified for Europe – according to a report in Belgium.
The 24-year-old has been on Celtic 's wanted list during the past three windows with Parkhead chiefs holding discussions with Royal Antwerp surrounding the 24-year-old with one year remaining on his deal.
But now Balikwisha appears primed for France after previously earning admiring glances from the likes of Leeds and Southampton.
Celtic have been linked with a clutch of wide men and Record Sport understands the Premiership champions want to sign two wingers before the window closes with Brendan Rodgers constantly stressing the need for added quality.
Balikwisha – who operates on the left hand side – has been beset by injury woe over the past two seasons but is regarded as one of the finest players in the Belgian Pro League.
Lille, Lyon, Nice, Monaco and Marseille are all in Europe alongside PSG with Strasbourg one tie away from reaching the Conference League.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
29 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Ex-Celtic striker 'will' join La Liga club in cut-price deal
The 27-year-old forward is expected to join Girona from English Premier League club Crystal Palace in a €6 million transfer. Edouard, who is entering the final year of his contract with Palace, has made 103 appearances for the club since his transfer from Celtic four years ago. Read more: Last season, he was loaned to Leicester City, but only made six appearances. This summer, Footmercato reports that he will make a permanent move to Girona. His transfer coincides with the move of Arnau Martinez, Girona's young Spanish defender, in the opposite direction, although these are separate transactions. Earlier in the summer, Edouard was loosely linked with a return to Celtic, but this was quickly dismissed by Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers said: "I'm not worried so much about a big name. "It's about the collective of the team. "Big names don't always give you want you need. "This team needs hunger, goals and work rate and intensity. "Big names don't always give you that. "It's about big players. "I just want players who are hungry to learn but also ready now. "There are lots of players linked with us. "Odsonne hasn't been on my radar, to be fair. "I obviously know him, but it's about a player who will fit into the structure of the team."
The National
34 minutes ago
- The National
Odsonne Edouard to 'arrive' in Spain ahead of €6m transfer
The frontman is entering the final year of his contract at English Premier League outfit Crystal Palace. Edouard has played 103 times for the Selhurst Park club since joining them from Celtic four years ago. He spent last season on loan at Leicester City, although he ultimately made just six appearances in a less-than-productive spell. Read more: Now, the 27-year-old is on the move again this summer, and according to a report from footmercato, he will join Girona from Palace in a permanent deal worth €6m. He is expected to arrive in Spain to seal the move. The deal comes as Arnau Martinez, Girona's young Spanish defender, moves the other way, although this is not a swap, and rather two separate transactions. Loosely linked with a return to Celtic earlier this summer, Brendan Rodgers soon quashed any hopes fans might have of Edouard coming back. He said: "I'm not worried so much about a big name. It's about the collective of the team. "Big names don't always give you want you need. This team needs hunger, goals and work rate and intensity. "Big names don't always give you that. It's about big players. "I just want players who are hungry to learn but also ready now. There are lots of players linked with us. "Odsonne hasn't been on my radar, to be fair. I obviously know him, but it's about a player who will fit into the structure of the team."
Daily Record
41 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Brendan Rodgers faces £11m Celtic decision as rookie earns rare start in predicted XI vs St Mirren
Brendan Rodgers faces £11m Celtic decision as rookie earns rare start in predicted XI vs St Mirren The real stuff finally gets underway this weekend and Brendan Rodgers faces a couple of dilemmas Celtic are targeting five-in-a-row (Image: SNS Group) Brendan Rodgers might be short of firepower. But the Celtic boss still faces one or two selection headaches further back the park. The champions begin their quest for five-in-a-row and a record-breaking 56th top-flight title on Sunday at home to St Mirren. Paul McStay - one of the greatest Celts of all-time - will make a special appearance before kick-off as he unfurls the league flag. The Maestro would walk into any Hoops team and Rodgers even admitted: "Paul McStay would probably play in two positions for me. He was amazing. "When the club spoke to me and told me that there was the possibility of him coming to do the flag day, I went into my boy mode again and… what an amazing icon of the club he is. Article continues below "He was such an icon at such a tough time for Celtic as well, I can't speak highly enough of him as a player, and obviously, the humility he has." Like one-club man McStay, Callum McGregor has dedicated his career to the Hoops and remains the first name on the team sheet - even at 32. But who partners the skipper in midfield is up for debate. Rodgers is spoilt for choice, with Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Benji Nygren, Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo all battling it out. Celtic's Arne Engels New Bhoy Nygren has hit the ground running in pre-season and already looks like a Matt O'Riley 2.0. The Super Swede has slotted in on the right of a midfield three, with Hatate occupying the other side. It's a dynamic engine room that has clicked over the summer and that could see £11million man Arne Engels benched for flag day. The Belgian marked his debut season with 23 goal contributions but faces tough competition - with prolific Nygren likely to be given the nod. At the back, Cameron Carter-Vickers still looks short on fitness after a minor summer knee op. The USA international has been a rock at Celtic's defence but injuries have taken their toll in recent seasons. Rodgers is expected to manage his game time carefully, which could open the door for academy graduate Dane Murray to step in. The 22-year-old has impressed behind the scenes and the manager insists he'll have a part to play this term. Up top, this could be a defining campaign for £9m man Adam Idah as he bids to nail down the No.9 shirt. Shin Yamada offers raw pace and unpredictability, but the Japan cap is still settling in. Out wide, Player of the Year Daizen Maeda will be unleashed in his preferred left-sided role. And on the opposite flank, fringe man Yang looks set to start as the hunt for Nicolas Kuhn's successor drags on. Predicted Celtic XI How Celtic could line up against St Mirren Schmeichel; Johnston, Murray, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor, Hatate, Nygren; Yang, Idah, Maeda. Provisional Celtic squad Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel Viljami Sinisalo Ross Doohan Defenders Alistair Johnston Anthony Ralston Cameron Carter-Vickers Dane Murray Liam Scales Auston Trusty Hayato Inamura Kieran Tierney Midfielders Callum McGregor Reo Hatate Ben Nygren Luke McCowan Arne Engels Paulo Bernardo Attackers Adam Idah Shin Yamada Daizen Maeda James Forrest Yang Marco Tilio Johnny Kenny Callum Osmand Article continues below Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
