Latest news with #Balikwisha
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtic transfer explosion as Balikwisha talks 'personal terms', striker on brink and Angulo brings the house down
Persistent Celtic have restarted talks with long-term target Michel-Ange Balikwisha with discussions over personal terms underway – according to a leading report in Belgium. The Royal Antwerp winger has been on the Parkhead signing radar over the previous two windows and now the former Red Devils' U21 star is expected to leave his homeland this summer. Advertisement Now signing insider Sacha Tavolieri states the Premiership champions have triggered dialogue with the coveted wide man. READ MORE: Lennon Miller to Celtic transfer bid poised for relaunch as James Penrice scouted amid left back hunt READ MORE: Panicked Rangers diehard drops £40m transfer bomb after Cerny KO as Tierney suffers brutal Hotline slapdown Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Royal Antwerp -Credit:Photonews via Getty Images Balikwisha directly addressed Celtic earlier this year but admitted his injury issues kiboshed any potential switch to Glasgow. Celtic are honing in on fresh impetus in wide areas with Jota out for the long term and fellow starter Nicolas Kuhn widely expected to attract interest from elsewhere in the coming months. Advertisement And that means Balikwisha isn't the only winger on the agenda with fellow Jupiler Pro League star Nilson Angulo attracting interest with reports in Belgium claiming Celtic had an initial bid tossed out. The 21-year-old started Ecuador's gutsy 0-0 draw away to Peru which sealed their qualification for the World Cup in North America. And now Anderlecht are braced for fresh interest in a player who has enjoyed a stratospheric rise since leaving him homeland in 2022. Nilson Angulo of RSC Anderlecht takes a shot at goal -Credit:Alex BierensAnother winger who could also be back in the mix is Sondre Ørjasæter with Sky Sports claiming the £7m-rated Sarpsborg star remains high on the agenda. Advertisement Boss Brendan Rodgers appears to be getting the front-foot window he craves with Kieran Tierney signed, sealed and delivered and Ross Doohan soon to follow as the third-choice goalkeeper after Scott Bain's exit. And the next signing appears imminent with Callum Osmand set to sign a long-term deal after being tempted north from the Fulham B team. The Wales youth international turned heads last season but will join the Premiership champions despite being wanted to become a part of the Cottagers' first team. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. Advertisement You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, 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 Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. 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.
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Michel-Ange Balikwisha in airport teaser amid Celtic links
It was reported earlier in the week that the Parkhead club had re-entered the race to sign the 23-year-old, with discussions underway regarding personal terms. Read more: Now, Balikwisha has taken to Instagram, posting a picture on his story with the location tagged at Nice Airport, writing, 'Here we go again.' Michel-Ange Balikwisha's Instagram story. (Image: Instagram/@mickeybali32) The Belgian has been a long-term Celtic target. Despite an injury-plagued 2024/25 campaign, Balikwisha still managed to conjure up four goals and three assists in 17 games for his club, Royal Antwerp. He spoke about his career to local Belgian media earlier in the year: "Without the injuries I have had this season, I probably wouldn't be at Antwerp anymore," said Balikwisha. "I suffered a meniscus in the 2024 winter transfer window. And last summer, Celtic, Lille and Lens came knocking, and I was out again at a bad time. I don't know whether I will leave this summer. The chairman and Marc Overmars will be in charge of that in the coming weeks. "How I end the play-offs will determine a lot. If I continue on this path with the way I am playing, things can go quickly. "If it turns out that my Antwerp story is coming to an end, then I hope to sign elsewhere in time, so that I can play a farewell match to the fans."
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic transfer explosion as Balikwisha talks 'personal terms', striker on brink and Angulo brings the house down
The Premiership champions are racing ahead in their pursuit of fresh arrivals with three wingers linked Persistent Celtic have restarted talks with long-term target Michel-Ange Balikwisha with discussions over personal terms underway – according to a leading report in Belgium. The Royal Antwerp winger has been on the Parkhead signing radar over the previous two windows and now the former Red Devils' U21 star is expected to leave his homeland this summer. Now signing insider Sacha Tavolieri states the Premiership champions have triggered dialogue with the coveted wide man. Balikwisha directly addressed Celtic earlier this year but admitted his injury issues kiboshed any potential switch to Glasgow. Celtic are honing in on fresh impetus in wide areas with Jota out for the long term and fellow starter Nicolas Kuhn widely expected to attract interest from elsewhere in the coming months. And that means Balikwisha isn't the only winger on the agenda with fellow Jupiler Pro League star Nilson Angulo attracting interest with reports in Belgium claiming Celtic had an initial bid tossed out. The 21-year-old started Ecuador's gutsy 0-0 draw away to Peru which sealed their qualification for the World Cup in North America. And now Anderlecht are braced for fresh interest in a player who has enjoyed a stratospheric rise since leaving him homeland in 2022. Another winger who could also be back in the mix is Sondre Ørjasæter with Sky Sports claiming the £7m-rated Sarpsborg star remains high on the agenda. Boss Brendan Rodgers appears to be getting the front-foot window he craves with Kieran Tierney signed, sealed and delivered and Ross Doohan soon to follow as the third-choice goalkeeper after Scott Bain's exit. And the next signing appears imminent with Callum Osmand set to sign a long-term deal after being tempted north from the Fulham B team. The Wales youth international turned heads last season but will join the Premiership champions despite being wanted to become a part of the Cottagers' first team. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, 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 Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
The National
29-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Balikwisha Celtic door opened as Antwerp aim to 'generate money'
The Scottish Premiership champions have long been linked with a move for the winger, who scored four goals and assisted three in 17 games last season. He missed 29 matches of the campaign through injury. Read more: Antwerp are currently enduring financial issues, and their main aim this summer is to 'generate money' and 'drastically reduce costs', according to As a result, they are looking to sell Balikwisha, Mahamdou Doumbia, Senne Lammens and Zeno Van Den Bosch, from whom they 'hope' to make a total of €30 million. Balikwisha is about to enter the final year of his contract. He joined Antwerp in 2021 from Standard Liege. The 24-year-old hinted earlier this year that he could move on this summer: "Without the injuries I have had this season, I probably wouldn't be at Antwerp anymore," said Balikwisha. "I suffered a meniscus in the 2024 winter transfer window. And last summer, Celtic, Lille and Lens came knocking and I was out again at a bad time. "I don't know whether I will leave this summer. The chairman and Marc Overmars will be in charge of that in the coming weeks. How I end the play-offs will determine a lot. "If I continue on this path with the way I am playing, things can go quickly. And if it turns our tomorrow that my Antwerp story is coming to an end, then I hope to sign elsewhere in time, so that I can play a farewell match to the fans."
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
10 bold Celtic transfers to trigger a record-breaking summer as Kvistgaarden and quintet of wingers lead the way
The Scottish champions are set to spend big again this summer in what could be Brendan Rodgers' final season Brendan Rodgers is set to be bankrolled with another eye-watering transfer kitty this summer as Celtic prepare to splash the cash. The Hoops forked out £11million to land Arne Engels from Augsburg last August and are poised to break that again in their quest for five-in-a-row. Parkhead chiefs are hell-bent on backing Double-winning Rodgers to the hilt in what could be his last season in Glasgow. Rodgers was handed a jaw-dropping £40m warchest in 2024/25, shelling out on lucrative deals for Engels, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty and Jota. The jury remains out on some of those marquee arrivals, but with a two-legged Champions League playoff to navigate this season, Celtic know they'll have to open the chequebook again. Here, Record Sport looks at 10 potential money-spinning targets that could take Celtic to the next level. Mathias Kvistgaarden The name that just won't go away. Ask most Celtic fans, and the new Denmark call-up would top their wishlist. Kvistgaarden ended the season with 23 goals for Brondby and supporters are already resigned to losing their homegrown hero this summer. The 23-year-old is hot property though and a bidding war could see his asking price soar beyond his current £11m valuation. A long-term target for Rodgers, the hottest talent in the Danish Superliga could be Celtic's box-office signing. David Strelec It's understood the Slovakian hitman was the subject of a £7.5m offer from the Hoops in January. Celtic, of course, know all about the Slovan Bratislava star as he played in the 5-1 Champions League drubbing at Parkhead last September. Strelec wrapped up the campaign with 25 goals to his name but his representative confirmed this week that there is currently no concrete offer on the table from the Scottish champions. Michel-Ange Balikwisha Flying machine Balikwisha is another player who Celtic have been keeping tabs on for months. The 23-year-old's season was ruined by injuries but he returned to full fitness in March, contributing four goals and three assists in just 10 appearances. Out-of-contract next year, the Belgium Under-21 cap looks certain to move on this summer. Balikwisha confirmed the Glasgow giants had made offers for him this season but said: 'Celtic's interest was concrete, but I chose to stay. Leaving with an injury was not ideal. I'd rather take good care of myself so I could be ready for the play-offs with Antwerp. We'll see in the summer transfer window." Raul Moro Another wideman who fits the bill is Real Valladolid's star man. Moro was at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war in January as the Hoops and Ajax both expressed an interest in the £8.5m-rated Spain Under-21 cap. But the 22-year-old - who arrived in a bargain £2m deal from Lazio last summer - was left devastated as a fractured collarbone scuppered his chances of a move. Despite being tipped for months on the sidelines, Moro made a quick recovery, missing only four La Liga games. And after Valladolid - owned by Real Madrid legend Ronaldo - suffered relegation, prized asset Moro will likely be flogged. Sondre Ørjasæter Highly-rated Norweigan starlet Ørjasæter has been touted for a huge future in the game. And multiple reports claimed the Parkhead club had a £4.3m bid knocked back in January. The left-sided winger has lit up the Eliteserien since joining Sarpsborg 08 last year, registering an impressive 17 goal contributions in just 40 games. Asked directly about links to Celtic, Ørjasæter, admitted in February: "Of course it's cool that big clubs are interested. But I don't want to comment on rumours. Doesn't affect me at all. I just try to relax, train well every day and have fun with the guys on the team." It's believed the 21-year-old would command a fee upwards of £7m. Million Manhoef Stoke City's pace merchant is said to feature on Celtic's long list of attacking targets. The Netherlands youth international has been one of the standouts in his first full season in the EFL Championship. Since arriving in a £3m switch from Vitesse, the 23-year-old has 11 goals and five assists for the Potters. And that's seen his stock explode, with a £10m price tag rumoured to be slapped on his head. A previous target for Rangers, Stoke are braced for serious interest and Celts could knock at the door. Lennon Miller Teenage sensation Miller, 19, is destined for bigger and better things after a stunning breakthrough at Motherwell. The uncapped Scot - voted PFA and SFWA Player of the Year - is out of contract next summer and Well are resigned to losing their academy starlet. It was suggested that Celtic had a bid rejected in January but with German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund and French Ligue 1 side Star sniffing around, the Steelmen are guaranteed to pocket a club record fee that would eclipse David Turnbull's £3.25m switch to Parkhead in 2020. Veljko Milosavljevic Despite spending millions on Trusty, Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke, Rodgers has yet to find a reliable partner for first-choice stopper Cameron Carter-Vickers. But wonderkid Milosavljevic could be the answer. Reports emerging from Serbia claim the Hoops have seen a first bid for the 17-year-old rejected by Red Star Belgrade - falling way short of the £8.4m asking price. The towering defender has also been scouted by Champions League finalists PSG and English Premier League outfit Everton. Keita Kosugi In-demand Japanese defender Kosugi has been heavily linked with Celtic. Japanese sources claim the Djurgarden teen, 19, is at the centre of a three-way battle between the Scottish Double winners, French moneybags PSG and Italian powerhouses Atalanta. Kosugi - who is an U20 international - has been an ever-present for the Swedes in their 10 league games so far and also started both Europa Conference League semi-final legs against Chelsea. The verstaile left-back - who can also play central or on the right - would be viewed as a perfect understudy to incoming Kieran Tierney, with Greg Taylor yet to sign a new deal. Oskar Fallenius Kosugi isn't the only Djurgarden youngster attracting Celtic's interest, with reports in Sweden claiming speed demon Fallenius is also on the radar. And if the rumours are to be believed, then the Double winners could also face competition from Glasgow rivals Rangers. The former Brondby kid has caught the eye in Allsvenskan and has taken his game to another level since switching from right to left wing in his major breakthrough season. He would be regarded as one for the future. 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.
