Celtic-Linked Midfielder Has Night to Forget in Europe

A Celtic target had a night to forget in the UEFA Conference League.

While Celtic suffered their own defeat in the Champions League play-off, fellow Premiership side Hibernian failed to secure European group-stage football for the first time in their history.

The Edinburgh side had held Gent to a goalless draw in Belgium last week, leaving it all to play for at Easter Road on Thursday night. Hibs came from a goal down and had one eye on making history with 13 minutes to go. Two goals in the final six minutes, however, meant it was heartbreak for David Gray’s side as they lost 3-2.

One player linked with a move to Celtic is Miguel Chaiwa. The 22-year-old started the match but was booked after an hour; a questionable decision.

Searching for a late winner, Gent broke into a counter-attack, with Chaiwa sprinting back to defend. He turned the ball into his own net, but it was a split-second decision that he had no choice but to make. Had he not tried to clear, the Gent player would’ve been there to slot it home anyway.

The Celtic-linked man then received a second yellow card as he stopped another Gent counter in the middle of the pitch. Another split decision that was made with just thirty seconds remaining; Hibs looked done at that stage.

It was an unfortunate end to a game that looked to be heading in the Scottish side’s way.

CeltsAreHere has tracked Chaiwa’s movements for months, revealing that talks between Celtic and Hibs took place in January before further contact later in the season.

Sunderland had the Zambia international on their radar, but ended their interest after signing another midfielder. 

The Herald’s Stephen McGowan reported that Chaiwa is indeed on Celtic’s radar and that the Hoops retain an interest in the defensive midfielder. Should a deal for Torino’s Gvidas Ginetis not break through, then the Celts could yet make their move.

There has been no official bid for Ginetis at this stage, and Chaiwa remains an option. Despite a night he’ll be eager to forget, he was one of Hibs’ standout performers last season.

Chaiwa’s agent, Boudjemai Youcef, told CeltsAreHere that he believed a fee of around £3 million could potentially be enough to get a deal done.

With less than a week left in the summer transfer window, the Hoops need new bodies in the door. A Europa League campaign awaits, and there are key areas within the squad that need to be addressed quickly.