Celtic are closing in on a deal for Ivory Coast winger Jocelin Ta Bi after tabling an improved bid, which could see Wilfried Nancy secure his first permanent addition amid increasing pressure on the manager…
The 20-year-old has been firmly on the club’s radar as recruitment plans continue to take shape.
Ta Bi is currently on loan at Hapoel Petah Tikva from Israeli side Maccabi Netanya, where his performances have attracted attention despite a recent ankle injury.
The setback is not believed to be serious, with medical checks indicating he should return to action within the next two weeks.
Reports from Israel suggest the transfer is expected to be finalised in the coming days, with the winger set to follow Julian Araujo through the door after the Mexican international arrived on a loan deal last week, marking Nancy’s first signing in charge.
Following Hapoel Petah Tikva’s weekend win over Hapoel Kfar Saba, a club representative confirmed Celtic’s position in the negotiations, stating that only one formal bid had been lodged for Ta Bi and that it had come from the Scottish champions.
“We have been informed by Maccabi Netanya that there has only been one official offer for Jocelin Ta Bi and it was from Celtic,” a Hapoel Petah Tikva spokesman said via Daily Record. “We expect him to leave in the coming days.”
The deal is understood to be worth in the region of £2 million, with a portion of that sum – approximately £250,000 – allocated to cover compensation owed to his current loan side for cutting short his season-long spell.
Celtic are believed to have seen off reported interest from Belgian outfit Gent to secure the winger’s signature.
The 20-year-old has featured 20 times in the Israeli top flight this term, registering two goals and providing two assists.
Conor Spence
Morning Gossip: Bid submitted for winger Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi. Medical rumoured for Steve Moreira who Nancy knows from the MLS. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey & Inamura away. Steve Woods did indeed resign & is away. No statement yet on Nancy so perhaps he stays, god help us. HH pic.twitter.com/slahEA2Klj
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) January 5, 2026
So sick of these bull-shit signins!
“World class in everything we do” – what a joke!
Money laundering? Kick backs? Bungs? Bhoys club?
Another average winger when we need strikers & CB’s 🤯🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Fuckin shambles!
Some guy that needs a year tae “settle in” .. then we realise: “ohh! He’s actually jutlst shite!”
Fuck this club! Sack the board, manager & half the team!
I’d usually be optimistic but there have been a conveyor belt of these unproven failure players who have shown promise for 5 minutes at lowly clubs in nothing leagues with a YouTube reel of eye catching moments that mean fuck all. Manager recruited using the same blueprint. Another low level punt. And also it was relative minnows Genk who had expressed interest not Ghent. In the mix with the big boys for this signing. Hope he proves me wrong.
A whole £2 million? Wow! That’s a Tisdale signing if ever there was one. I tip Celtic to win the Champions League next year if these kinds of marquee signings continue. So exciting!!!
Doing business with Apartheid, Genocidal Israel. Is there any low Desmond and the board won’t stoop to.
Football is not political, it’s a sport. Your comment is one reason I am so pleased to see the Green (Red) Brigade getting its marching orders from Parkhead. That one the Board definitely got right. Take your political rhetoric elsewhere, it has no place in sport.
Decency and humanity not politics are the reasons individuals, businesses, countries choose to Boycott Apartheid, Genocidal Israel and they are virtues plainly absent from the Celtic board and the Billionaire class to whom Despot Desmond belongs.
Tell it to your local MP, not the Celtic Board. Celtic are about sport, not geopolitics. Why is that so difficult for people like you to comprehend? The Celtic fans are there to support the team, not to see Palestinian flags and banners flying in the Red Brigade area. I hope the Red Brigade are never allowed back into Celtic Park for that reason – they already cost the club a great player in Liel Abada.
Did you ever lick a boot you didn’t like?