Respected journalist Stephen McGowan has shared an important update on Celtic’s plans heading into the final week of the summer transfer window.
He believes there is real movement now, with the club looking to finalise key signings before the 1 September deadline. With time running out, a number of deals could still get over the line.
McGowan says Belgian winger Michel Ange‑Balikwisha is close to signing a four‑year deal at Celtic Park. The 24-year-old would add speed and directness to Brendan Rodgers’ forward line. On top of that, the club are also making good progress in their bid to land Uruguayan left‑back Marcelo Saracchi.
He also expects a striker and another wide player to arrive in the coming days. It points to a busy end to the window as Celtic aim to finish their business strong. However, McGowan also questioned why the club has left so much to the final week.
McGowan raised doubts over the thinking behind the delay, especially with Champions League football at stake. The late push may have been avoided had key deals been handled earlier in the summer.
He said: (Press Box hosted by Graham Spiers), “I think Celtic will do business this week. It looks like they’re going to tie up Michel Ange-Balikwisha on a four-year deal.
“Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi also looks like a good chance of happening. I think they’ll probably get a striker and a second winger in.
“That’s certainly the goal and the aim. The big question is, why are they leaving it so late?
“By this time next week, we could be having a very different conversation.
“I just don’t understand why an inherently cautious, conservative board of directors would take such a huge gamble with Champions League qualification, when they could surely have done some of these deals sooner.”
The final week of the transfer window looks like being a big one for Celtic. If Michel Ange‑Balikwisha and Marcelo Saracchi arrive as planned, the timing could prove key, giving Brendan Rodgers extra options.
Adding a striker and another winger would show a clear push to strengthen the squad in key areas.
Even so, McGowan’s dig at the board’s “inherently cautious, conservative” style highlights a wider issue. Leaving things this late might create drama, but it also brings real risk, especially with European football and tight deadlines in play.
Celtic are known for being careful with their business, but in a busy summer market, that caution can backfire.
But if even one deal falls apart, questions will rightly be asked about why it was left so late. The next few days will show whether the board have pulled off a last-minute success, or pushed their luck too far.
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4 responses
It can never be classed as a success…no matter what happens…In fact the more signings we make…the bigger shambles it is….and proves the absolute incompetence of those responsible…Too little…far too late.
Incompetence at the highest level is the only conclusion I can come to.
Every single fan knows we needed replacements for Kyogo & Kuhn yet they were sold with no thought to replacing them.
It’s astonishing that the Board have gambled to the point of risking CL qualification and the money to be had from it which would more than have covered any outlay on 2/3 more new players.
The question has to be asked as to just who is to blame for putting us in this position – Tisdale, Nicholson, Lawwell, Desmond … or the lot of them.
Another question that should be asked is just why is Desmond being consulted on anything – he owns 34% of the shares and is supposedly a non-executive Director and Lawwell is a non-executive Chairman so neither should have a say in Board decisions – although I doubt if anyone is naive enough to believe they don’t.
Very complexed transfers you never see one transfer done in a day never mind a week with lawyers involved in any thing its a long process they get paid by the hour something has to be done to many people making money out of it human trafficking at worst even ransom money
Yes I agree with Blacksox we should get a replacement in before selling that way clubs dont think we are desprate to fill position khun had a good 6months but he was poor either side of the hot spot and Brendan if Brendan had another speeder in I doubt he would have played in his final few months club done brilliant to get what they got yes his hot time got that price but would you have payed that much for him in his last month’s as a Celtic player kyoko couldn’t play in Rodgers game plan and he ain’t done well since leaving got top dollar for him plus Idah was showing good form miada should be in centre but he is our best winger and attacker we have three front men plus miada jota injury now johnson injury forest didn’t combine with johnston cant run the line now kegs have gone his last season as winger was last season cant play three games a week Teirney Carter vickers cant play three times a week we can cope with that in spl games so Brendan has good enough replacements for spl but if any those get injured bare bones Ridgers says he needs 6or7players in this transfer window hes near that now 2 or 3 maybe four in last week 👍