Celtic is clearly trying to strengthen attacking options this January. The club has been working on deals for two wingers with limited success so far at least…
It was thought that Ivorian youngster Jocelin Ta Bi would arrive at Parkhead within the next days, despite carrying an ankle injury. However last night it emerged that the injury is more serious than first thought and the player now requires surgery to resolve the problem. This has resulted in Celtic, according to Stephen McGowan at the Herald, stepping back from the transfer deal.
The 20-year-old right winger impressed during a loan spell at Hapoel Petah Tikva while on the books at Maccabi Netanya. As a result Celtic had agreed a £2 million deal subject to a medical checks. However these checks put a spanner in the words and it seems Celtic has now pulled back from the deal.
Jocelin Ta Bi however might still get his big move to Britain with English Premier League side Sunderland now the favourites to sign the winger, regarding the player as one for the future, in contrast to Celtic whose needs are more immediate.
Talks are now moving forward for Uruguayan forward Ignacio Laquintana. His signing would give interim boss Martin O’Neill more options as Celtic try to close the gap on current league leaders, Hearts.
Martin O’Neill at the weekend admitted that his Celtic squad needs reinforcements in the January window. The gap at the top is still there, with the Champions currently six points behind Hearts after a costly month under the inept rookie manager Wilfried Nancy, who lasted just 33 days in the job.
The pressure is certainly building on the Celtic Board to get deals for quality signings across the line before the January window closes. The club certainly has the money but must now illustrate their desire to spend to close that gap and secure a fifth successive title. And Ignacio Laquintana, rather than Jocelin Ta Bi, could be the first step. The 20-year-old right winger impressed during a loan spell at Hapoel Petah Tikva while on the books at Maccabi Netanya. Celtic have agreed a £2 million deal to make the move permanent. Medical checks are expected in the coming days.
The timing matters, too. Celtic needs momentum as they head into a tough second half of the season. For the Scottish Premiership title, bookmakers list Hearts as 5/4 favourites. Celtic are at 2/1. theRangers follow at 5/2. The odds reflect the six-point gap but still leave room for movement if January signings like an early impact.
That sense of a possible shift is already showing up in the markets. Fans checking UK mobile betting apps will see Scottish Premiership odds updated around the clock. This includes outright title odds and match markets. Player-focused bets adjust quickly when squads change, especially when new signings arrive and start featuring in matches. Live updates and in-play pricing mean any momentum Celtic build through January signings shows up almost immediately as the title race develops.
One of those possible additions would bring a different kind of option. Ignacio Laquintana represents a contrasting profile to Ta Bi. The 26-year-old currently plays for Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil. He’s more experienced than Ta Bi. Celtic held talks over the weekend about bringing him to Scotland as the focus turned to him as the preferred option. The structure being discussed is a loan-to-buy. That gives Celtic flexibility. They can assess Laquintana’s adaptation to Scottish football before committing to a permanent deal. The player himself wants the move. He sees Parkhead as the right step for his career.
A new right winger will fill a clear gap in the Celtic squad following the £17m summer sale of Nicolas Kuhn to Italian side Como. Celtic have missed width and ideas during a rough run of form particularly under Nancy. That is part of why O’Neill is back again. This is his third spell in charge. He knows the club. He knows the pressure. He has won in Scotland before and understands what it takes to do it again. That familiarity should help the new signings settle quickly.
The move for Laquintana points to clear intent. Celtic must back O’Neill as he tries to reshape the squad and close the gap at the top. Signing Laquintana won’t fix everything, but he adds quality, competition, and options out wide. His arrival should lift standards across the group, with sources indicating the deal is moving smoothly and an announcement is expected soon. Although with Celtic we have learned never to count our chickens when it comes to getting signing targets across the line, especially under current CEO Michael Nicholson who has endured two successive dreadful transfer windows in 2025.
January could define Celtic’s season. Chasing from six points back with reinforcements feels very different from standing still. O’Neill has handled situations like this before, and new signings need to have the tools to influence the run-in. This will underlines Celtic’s aim to stay in the title race until the end and hopefully emerge triumphant, as usually happens in Scotland. It would mean Celtic being Champions 14 times in 15 seasons, with the only failure coming in the freakish covid season when appropriately enough theRangers won the league, one of just three trophies they have collected since being founded back in 2012.
Why are we still delaying bringing in a CF….. I’d understand if they were attempting to replace Ronaldo or Messi but FFS come on, were not, I could name 3 players right now that would be attainable and also hugely improve the team, so what are the professionals waiting for ?????
HH