Brendan Rodgers wants quality signings in the door before next month’s Champions League play-off
Celtic target Michel-Ange Balikwisha(Image: Getty Images)
Celtic are refusing to give up on their long-running pursuit of Michel Ange Balikwisha.
The Hoops have identified the Royal Antwerp winger as one of their top targets this summer as Brendan Rodgers desperately seeks to add more firepower to his frontline.
Celts are down to the bare bones in terms of wide options following Nicolas Kuhn’s £17million exit to Como and Jota sidelined until 2026.
Balikwisha, 24, has been on the radar for a while and the Parkhead club were ready to move for him in January before he suffered his last injury.
The lightning-quick Belgian is out of contract next summer and Celtic hope to land him for a cut-price deal.
Cash-strapped Royal Antwerp are open to selling their star man rather than risk losing him for nothing at the end of this season.
But sporting director Marc Overmars is reluctant to budge on the £5m price tag, with Celts keen to meet somewhere in between.
The player’s representative Jibril Rekkab claimed that there hasn’t been contact between both clubs but Record Sport understands discussions have taken place.
Jakob Breum in action
It’s believed Antwerp know that Balikwisha wants to move to Scotland but are playing hardball as they look to get the best fee they can as his contract runs down.
Meanwhile, there were reports that Go Ahead Eagles had turned down Celtic’s £1.5m bid for talented winger Jakob Breum.
However, Danish sources have dismissed that and claimed the Hoops’ interest hasn’t been renewed.
As well as a new winger, the Scottish champions are also in the market for a main striker, while another midfielder remains a top priority.
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