Hannah then asked if certain key moments in matches when he has turned to his bench may impact his thoughts on this next coming transfer window. “There were a couple of moments, just in the run-in towards four-in-a-row when you looked at Celtic’s bench that I thought about that. One, when they lost here to theRangers in a derby, it was very thin. Brendan Rodgers turning and he could really only put on Adam Idah and Yang that day. And then that recent defeat at St Johnstone.
READ THIS…Tangerines and Footballs – Green Brigade’s Protest has wider importance
Luis Palma in action for Olympiacos in action during the UEFA Europa League round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Bodo/Glimt held at Stadium Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, Greece, 13 March 2025. Photo One Inch Productions
“Luis Palma, Odin Thiago Holm, Gustaf Lagerbielke. I think if Celtic could get all of them off the wage-bill”
“Just Brendan’s quotes after the game about players in a comfort zone. And him wanting players that match his hunger almost. You see the guys going out the door. As you say, Greg Taylor, potentially Hatate. But also, there’s an awful lot of loan players who are headed by the likes of Luis Palma, Odin Thiago Holm, Gustaf Lagerbielke. I think if Celtic could get all of them off the wage-bill, Celtic could be looking at bringing in maybe half-a-dozen players again in the summer,” he added.
READ THIS…Celtic closing in on Al-Ahly’s ‘Most Successful Club in World’ record
Michel-Ange Balikwisha during the Belgian “Pro League” First Division football match between Royal Antwerp FC and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise at Bosuil-Stadium in Antwerp on March 17, 2024. (Photo by KRISTOF VAN ACCOM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)
“They’re obviously having a look at Michel Ange-Balikwisha”
Friel replied: “It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. You know the guys you mentioned, especially Lagerbielke and Palma, they will find new permanent homes somewhere. And Celtic will recoup a bit of money. Celtic could easily get five or six million pounds between those two. I think Celtic will look at central defence again. They’ll certainly bring in Kieran Tierney for left-back. I think they’ll look at the midfield area. It wouldn’t surprise me if they brought in two midfielders. If Palma goes, James Forrest’s there, Yang’s there, Kühn’s there, Jota’s there. But I do think with Daizen Maeda playing through the middle, they could look for one more winger. They’re obviously having a look at Michel Ange-Balikwisha.”
The Celtic Huddle. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
That’s an interesting insight, especially from Friel, as the summer transfer window approaches.
Paul Gillespie
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.
