Celtic were linked with Malick Thiaw but the Schalke defender is on the verge of completing a big move to Italian champions Serie A.
The Bhoys were in the market for a new centre back this summer even after keeping loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent basis.
A number of names were linked but Celtic ended up going for Moritz Jenz, with the 23-year-old arriving on loan from Lorient.
Celtic are unlikely to go for any more defenders but one target linked earlier this summer is now on the verge of a big move elsewhere.
Celtic were linked with Malick Thiaw
Calciomercato reported in June that Celtic had held talks to sign Schalke defender Malick Thiaw.
It was suggested that Celtic were open to a deal which would have seen Thiaw arrive at Parkhead with Christopher Jullien heading in the opposite direction.
Schalke ended up backing away from Jullien and Celtic didn’t push for Thiaw, with Jenz arriving instead just a few weeks later.
Thiaw, 21, has been tipped for a big future having already racked up more than 60 first-team appearances for Schalke.
The 6ft 4in defender had been on the books with Fortuna Dusseldorf, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach before joining Schalke in 2015.
A German Under-21 international, Thiaw may not be joining Celtic this summer but he is still set for a big move.
Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Thiaw is set to join AC Milan, with a photo of him arriving in Italy attached in the article.
Milan will be buying Thiaw rather than taking him on loan with an option to buy, so there is major show of faith in the defender.
Whilst one for the future, Thiaw will be hoping to shine in the Milan first team just like Pierre Kalulu has, and Celtic may well be watching on to see how he develops in Italy.
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