Celtic is reportedly looking to make five massive additions to their first team before the transfer window slams shut. This isn’t just a few tweaks around the edges; it’s a full-blown, frantic dash to get the squad finalized for the UEFA Europa League, with the deadline hitting Wednesday evening right after the whistle blows against Aberdeen.
Backline Bleeding: Where Are the Defenders?
Right now, Martin O’Neill’s side is in a serious hunt for two new defenders, needing both a left and a right back to bolster that backline. And honestly, who can blame them? Kieran Tierney is the only recognized left-back on the books, which is just wild. Plus, Alistair Johnston is sidelined with a knock and won’t be back until October. That’s a huge gap that needs filling. Reports out of France are saying Celtic is super keen on Niels Nkounkou from Eintracht Frankfurt, who’s also been heavily linked with OGC Nice. Getting him would be a huge win, especially with the clock ticking down.
Midfield Bolster and a Goalie Gamble?
It’s not just the defense that needs help. The Hoops are also closing in on a deal for Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen. He’s expected to come in on an initial loan with an option to buy, which is a smart move to test the waters. Then there’s PSV Eindhoven’s Joel van den Berg, who looks set to sign on the dotted line for a deal that would keep him with the club until 2030, with a fee reportedly over £3.5 million for the Dutch U19 Internationalist. Talk about a long-term play for a young talent! On top of all that, Celtic is in talks to snag Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. The 33-year-old, a four-cap England Internationalist, has apparently fallen down the pecking order after Wolves got relegated from the top flight, and Celtic is reportedly eyeing a loan deal for the ex-Crystal Palace and West Brom keeper. It feels like they’re just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, doesn’t it?
This whole thing is shaping up to be a frantic, wild end to the transfer window. And get this: the club actually claimed they’d learned lessons from previous windows and hoped to avoid this kind of last-minute madness. Yeah, right. With the deadline looming on Wednesday evening and that Europa League squad needing to be finalized, it’s going to be pure chaos. Don’t blink, folks, because it’s going to be a wild few days.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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