On the evidence of Sunday’s 4-0 butchering of Kilmarnock, the need for further attacking reinforcements may have been the last thing occupying the minds of jubilant Celtic supporters.
Ensuring that Old Firm rivals Rangers would be playing catch-up just 24 hours into the new season, Brendan Rodgers’ side turned on the style at Parkhead as they picked up in 2024/25 where they left off in 2023/24.
The masterful Reo Hatate drilled in the opener, Liam Scales headed in a second, Nicolas Kuhn then continued his mesmerising pre-season form with a super solo effort.
Even right-back Anthony Ralston got in on the act.
But while using the phrase ‘papering over the cracks’ may be a step too far, Celtic’s emphatic opening weekend win will not ease Rodgers’ lingering concerns about the depth available to him in the attacking departments.
Michel Ange Balikwisha linked with Celtic move
Celtic may be overloaded with wide forwards – Luis Palma and Yang Hyun-Jun came off the bench, while Mikey Johnston and the injured Daezen Maeda did not feature – but Rodgers still has reservations about whether that is enough.
“My ideal scenario would be to have three strikers,” the Hoops boss told the Scottish Sun in late-July, the departures of Oh Hyeon-Gyu to Genk and Rocco Vata to Watford leaving the champions short.
“The plan was for us to have Kyogo, one other and bring through a youngster. That was the role we came up with for Rocco.
“Three is difficult. But I also thought it would be good for development to bring in a young player from within. Rocco was that, but he’s moved on.”
As things stand, Celtic don’t even have two.
A return for Adam Idah is still on the cards, despite Celtic’s opening bid of £4 million falling well short of Norwich City’s demands, while HITC understands an enquiry has been lodged for Hearts hitman Lawrence Shankland.
Another name that has been mentioned is that of Michel Ange Balikwisha.
Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri reported on X three weeks ago that Celtic had opened talks with the Royal Antwerp speedster.
But with only a few weeks of the window remaining, Balikwisha could hardly have picked a worse time to suffer a muscle tear.
One that, according to Gazete van Antwerpen, may see him sidelined for two months and may also see a potential departure from the 2023 Jupiler League champions go up in smoke.
Another forward needed as Hoops struggle over Adam Idah
Balikwisha moved to Royal Antwerp from Standard Liege in a £4 million deal three years ago, despite interest from the then-Premier League based duo of West Brom and Brighton and Hove Albion.
A positive and dynamic forward, the former Belgium Under 21 international can play through the middle or wide on the left-hand side. He scored 10 goals and set up eight more in all competitions last term.
If Celtic were to prize him away, however, Balikwisha’s injury means he would potentially miss the next seven Scottish Premiership fixtures, including the first Old Firm derby of the campaign. Celtic will also have played their first game of the Champions League group-stages by his October return date.
“Negotiations can be tricky,” Celtic hero Chris Sutton tells the Daily Record, concerned that the Glasgow giants have not yet filled a gaping hole in their squad.
“But I find it baffling that Celtic should have completed their pre-season programme of fixtures with (Idah) not in the door.
“Same goes for Paulo Bernardo. He should have been in the side in the United States playing against DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea and getting up to speed with the team, instead of signing less than three days before the Premiership begins.
“I get that there’s not so much of a settling-in period needed for those boys because they know what Celtic is about having been there last season. But it still doesn’t sit comfortably.”
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