Fabrizo Romano claims that Valentin Rosier is ’one step away’ from joining Besiktas after Celtic called off negotiations with the Sporting Lisbon man.
If Celtic supporters were growing increasingly impatient about the lack of new signings at Parkhead, the Glasgow giants provided the perfect tonic last week.
In came Liel Abada, a little-known 19-year-old who has already made quite the impression in green and white, scoring 39 minutes into his debut during Tuesday’s 1-1 Champions League qualification draw with FC Midtjylland.
Kyogo Furuhashi soon followed, a bolt-from-the-blue arrival, snapped up out of nowhere in a deal worth around £6 million.
So while Ange Postecoglou will be pleased to see a pair of exciting, technically gifted attackers arrive, especially with Odsonne Edouard’s future still very much uncertain, Celtic cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
Who will be Celtic’s new right-back?
The fact that Anthony Ralston was a nailed-on starter against Midtjylland is a damning indictment of Celtic’s ongoing failure to sign a new right-back.
It has been clear for some time that Ralston is not at the required level but, following the departures of Jeremie Frimpong, Hatem Ebd Alhamed and loanee Jonjoe Kenny, he remains the club’s only senior option in a problem position with the new Scottish Premiership season less than two weeks away.
The Hoops held talks over a deal to bring the attack-minded Rosier to Parkhead last month.
Negotations soon collapsed, however, once it became clear that the Frenchman was only interested in joining a Besiktas side he won a league and cup double with during a stellar loan spell in 2020/21.
Transfer don Fabrizio Romano reports that a return to Istanbul is now just ‘one step away’ from completion, with Besktas expected to pay £4.5 million for the privilege (A Bola).
Celtic’s pursuit of Brandon Soppy is also under threat from Watford, while a deal for Rennes youngster Sacha Boey also appears to have fallen through (L’Equipe).
So, as it stands, Ralston is expected to keep his place for the clash with Hearts on July 31.
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