CELTIC are closing in on a loan move for West Brom’s £15million forward Oliver Burke. The former RB Leipzig winger joined The Baggies in a £15million transfer but has had limited game-time this season in the West Midlands.
Brendan Rodgers looks set to get his (Celtic supporting) man and Burke will be joined by both Timothy Weah, who is awaiting final clearance from PSG before joining up with the Celtic party in Dubai, and Vakoun Issouf Bayo is likely to be there too as Celtic are confident that they will beat Rapid Vienna for the Ivory Coast striker.
So Weah, Burke on loan deals and Bayo as a £2million plus signing looks like being the early January business that Celtic will do.
For the rest of the month the focus will switch to the defence with the short term future of Dedryck Boyata playing a central role.
Moving Boyata on in this window would provide funds for another bid for Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna.
Meanwhile Celtic are not pursuing their scouting interest in Lawrence Shankland and the latest is the Ayr striker could be on the move to Easter Road rather than Ibrox.
Hibs have apparently bid £375k for the goalscorer and the Somerset Park side are considering this offer despite stating that the player would be available at £400k. It seems that Petrie is happy to play the same tactical games that Lawwell used in the summer over John McGinn. Hopefully Ayr hold out and make him pay the full asking price.
Hibs yesterday lost the services of the impressive and reliable former Celtic defender Efe Ambrose, who opted to exercise a release clause in his contract with Neil Lennon’s side. Efe looks certain to be heading to the English Premiership and we wish him well.
Jack Hendry may well be on Lennon’s radar and there is a certain logic to Celtic squad players being loaned to fellow Scottish Premiership clubs, given they can’t play against Celtic but will stenthen teams playing against Them.
Lennon yesterday secured the services of Ryan Gauld on a loan deal from Sporting Lisbon and remains interested in bringing Scott Allan in from Celtic.
