Transfer Round-up – Jullien’s ‘Great Day, to be continued’ in Paradise and then Austria

CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN journeyed from Toulouse to Edinburgh yesterday via London and completed his Celtic medical. He’ll now be unveiled as the first Celtic signing of the summer later today before heading straight to Austria to join up with his new team-mates as Neil Lennon prepares his squad for the vital Champions League qualifying campaign which begins in Sarajevo in just over a week’s time.

Jullien was photographed by tabloids at Edinburgh Airport alongside Celtic physio Tim Williamson ahead of completing his £7million move the Treble Treble winners this morning.

The powerful French central defender posted a series of messages on social media yesterday and again in the wee small hours this morning providing The Celtic support with cryptical updates on his movements.

We told you on 24 June that Jullien and Bolton’s Irish star Luca Connell were likely lads and we expected both to become Celtic players in the next week or so. Connell yesterday arrived at Paradise and was photographed pitchside with Peter Lawwell.

The speed with which this transfer has been completed is in stark contrast to the long drawn out and ultimately frustrating David Turnbull saga which was yesterday called off after Motherwell refused to accept the frankly rather generous proposals from Celtic to take the player on loan, pay for his operation and re-rehab and then sign him for the full amount – £3.25million at the end of the season provided that the operation is a success and Turnbull is able to return to playing.

Turnbull is not expected to play again this year and with the winter shut down happening through the January window the Fir Park side will have little chance to put the player on the park and in the shop window in the next window so if he is going to be sold it will be next summer anyway.

Turnbull apparently is unhappy at Motherwell’s rejection of the Celtic deal and that in itself is a problem for the Fir Park club.

Jullien is not the only new addition to The French Foreign Legion that we expect to arrive – as we told you earlier this week on The Celtic Star – see HERE.

Celtic are close to negotiating an fee acceptable fee with Nice their attacking left back Romain Perraud who spent last season on loan at FC Paris. Neil Lennon travelled to the French capital to see Perraud for himself in April and after having an initial bid rejected, Celtic are likely to conclude this deal imminently.

Optimists among The Celtic support will see Romain as a replacement in the squad for Emilio Izaguirre who left the club in May.

“A dozen clubs have expressed interest in the advice of the player. But there really would be two who hold the rope in the eyes of the player and his agents.

“Starting with Brest who was the first to clearly formulate proposals . Nice refused a first offer and according to our information, still did not respond to the second. And lately, Celtic Glasgow, the reigning Scottish champion, has come forward.

“The problem is that Nice has never given a transfer price to the suitors and seems to drag the file. There is uncertainty over governance at the club’s head with a planned sale to British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

“But also because Patrick Vieira would look for a real specialist in this post, so much so that the club would no longer be a salesman and would consider convincing Perraud to stay.

“That would be the strong trend after the club assured us on Thursday night immediately rejecting the three proposals of the Stade Brestois and the two Celtic Glasgow.” lequipe.fr report.

Celtic remain interested in Rapid Vienna’s Boli Mbombo and don’t be surprised if there is a move for one – or both Kilmarnock full-backs. Raheem Harper, who attended the Trophy Day win over Hearts at Celtic Park and liked what he saw – is free to make a decision about his future at the end of June.

West Brom are putting out positive noises that that they have succeeded in convincing the midfielder to sign a new contract but we’re not so sure about that and fingers remain crossed over in the training camp in Austria on this one.

Incidentally this is a complete round-up of all the players we have spoken about as potential signings on The Celtic Star over the past month or so. There have been PLENTY of other players linked with Celtic but with very little substance to those stories – which you have NOT read on here. Just saying.

And ‘interest there’ or not regarding Middlesbrough’s Paddy McNair? Neil Lennon’s sending some folk off the scent of the real target. McNair? We have no place in Paradise…Imagine spending £5million on HIM?