Expect Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo and Romaine Perraud, Arsenal wrong for KT, they’re going nowhere fast

THE deadline for signing players eligible to play in the Champions League First Qualifying Round – in Celtic’c case that means away to Sarajevo – is Thursday evening and as that deadline approaches The Celtic rumour mill was last night buzzing about the imminent arrival of Rapid Vienna left back Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo.

Some supporters asked the Daily Mail’s Scottish football correspondent Stephen McGowan to confirm the rumour that the deal was done to sign and he replied saying “Deal not done.Yet.” It is imminent though and Celtic do have reason to believe that they have beaten off interest from England and Italy to sign a new left back ahead of the first Champions League deadline.

A new signing this week would be impressive and regarded very positively indeed by the Celtic support, adding to the feel-good factor after Celtic signed both Christopher Jullien and Luca Connell at the end of last week. After all, signing three new players early in the transfer window is very unlike Celtic!

However that feel good factor could turn to fear and dread if the news turns out to be that Celtic are not looking to sign ONE left back before the Champions League deadline on Thursday, they are actually set to sign TWO.

It’s increasingly likely that Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo is about to sign for Celtic and he looks like being joined by Nice’s want away left back Romaine Perraud who reported back to pre-season training yesterday on the Cote d’Azur seeking to force through his move to Glasgow. Romaine, who spent last season out on loan at Paris FC, wants to play in the Champions League and Celtic it appears are about to make his dream come true.

That signing on top of the arrival of Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo will actually give The Celtic support a fear and dread that the rumoured transfer of Kieran Tierney to Arsenal is set to go ahead. Arsenal, for a top end Premier League club, seem to be remarkably short of transfer budget given the huge amounts of TV money even unsuccessful clubs like them earn.

In the early 1980s those of us old enough to remember, watched as Celtic’s best player since Kenny Dalglish, the home-grown Charlie Nicholas – and in his first spell at Celtic he was absolutely sensational – swapped Celtic for Arsenal and in doing so made a huge error as far as his playing career went. Had he followed King Kenny to Anfield he’d probably have become a superstar and won numerous European Cups.

Kieran Tierney could be about to go down the same path all these years later. Arsenal it seems are a Premier League club in decline and are perhaps in comparison to all the club’s usually around them in their league, going backwards.

Have a look at the analysis on football business blogger The Swiss Ramble’s twitter account on this subject. It has very relevant information about the negative aspects of Arsenal’s prospects that Kieran Tierney and his advisors would do well to consider.

There is also the medical that Kieran Tierney would have to pass to get his move. As he is still recovering from his double hernia operation at the end of May and was unable to train in Austria last week, will be pass such an examination?

The English Transfer Window closes at 5pm on 8 August, the day before the Premier League gets underway. The English clubs transfer activity will increase as this deadline approaches. Maybe Celtic would do well to wait and see what others offers might come in for our star player if he wants to go and perhaps Kieran can do better than Arsenal.

Judging from the above they are going nowhere fast.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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