Boli Bolingoli is nearing an exit from Celtic Park, according to reports. Football Insider and reliable football writer Pete O’Rourke have said that Russian club FC Ufa are keen on taking the Belgian left-back on loan as both player and club look to go their separate ways.
Talks are said to be progressing ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline in Russia with the relegation-threatened Ufa keen to bolster their ranks with a move for Bolingoli. Even if it is a loan deal, to begin with, Celtic will be hoping to eventually recoup a transfer fee for the full-back with funds going into Ange Postecoglou’s transfer kitty.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 22: Boli Bolingoli of Celtic challenges Robert Lundstrom of AIK during the UEFA Europa League Play Off First Leg match between Celtic and AIK at Celtic Park on August 22, 2019 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
The player signed from Rapid Vienna in the Summer of 2019 for £2.5m and impressed initially but injuries resulted in Greg Taylor and Jonny Hayes deputising at left-back. The following year was a disaster for Bolingoli after he broke COVID-19 rules. The player was offloaded on loan to Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir as a result of the public shaming that took place following the player’s decision to go to Spain for one night and failed to quarantine when he returned. Taylor was joined by AC Milan’s Diego Laxalt but it was evident that neither were good enough to hold down a starting place last season.
Taylor is still at the club with Liam Scales as his deputy. However, the performance against Bodo/Glimt showcased that Taylor may improve with another quality option in the left-back berth. Bolingoli has made just two starts this season, away to both Livingston and Motherwell in the first half of the season but since then he has fallen off of the radar with Scales overtaking him.