Speculation season is upon us and Celtic will have to go through the next few weeks of the January transfer window, which officially started last week.
The Hoops confirmed their first deal of the month earlier this week, as centre-back Stephen Welsh completed a short-term loan move to Belgian side Mechelen until the end of the season.
He only had appeared in one game in Scottish Premiership during the first half of the season and Brendan Rodgers he has decided that he will not need a central defender in the coming months.
The Scottish academy graduate is not the only Celtic player who could leave Parkhead before the end of the January transfer window, however, there are a number of stars in a similar position to him.
Odin Thiago Holm falls into that category and he is reportedly on on the edge of the loan move to MLS side LAFC until the end of the 2025 season.
Another Celtic player who could find himself playing for a new club until February is winger Luis Palma, who has been linked with a move away from Glasgow this month.
The latest on Luis Palma’s Celtic future
The Honduran international has only started one game in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, and that has naturally led to speculation about his long-term future at the Paradise.
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph recently reported that Spain’s Rayo Vallecano are interested in signing the former Aris sensation in the January transfer window.
The journalist claimed that the LaLiga side had already made an approach to sign the left winger, with the proposal that he initially join them on loan with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.
Joseph added that Celtic are reluctant to move on from Parkhead at the moment, but are also open to offers for his services, which shows he is not untouchable and their attitude may change.
It now remains to be seen whether Rayo Vallecano’s offer is enticing enough for the Premiership champions to sanction the departure of the winger, who played in the last two championship games of the club.
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Joseph reported earlier this month that Genoa and Olympiacos were as well interested in signing Palma, however, suggesting there is no shortage of suitors for the 24-year-old ace and competition for his signature could trigger an auction that would increase the fee Celtic can earn for him.
The question for Rodgers and the Hoops board, however, is whether the money on offer is enough to make up for what they would lose by allowing him to leave, and his performances over the last 12 months or so suggest the Scottish great would not be missed much.
Why Celtic should sell Luis Palma
Whether it’s an initial loan or a permanent deal straight away, Celtic should cash in on the Honduran forward as his form simply hasn’t been good enough to warrant keeping him amid such intense interest elsewhere.
Since the beginning of 2024, Palma has scored two goals and no assists in 20 Premiership appearances for the Hoops, including zero goals in seven league appearances this season.
The 24-year-old ace had scored five goals and provided nine assists in 15 league games for Celtic during the first half of the 2023/24 season, but his form from the start of the year that season was poor.
|
Luis Palma |
24/25 Premiership |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
7 |
|
It starts |
1 |
|
Objectives |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Great chances were created |
1 |
As you can see in the table above, Palma has offered Rodgers very little on the pitch in the Premiership this season, with zero goals and one ‘big chance’ created for his teammates.
In front of the January window, the Belgian outlet Gazet van Antwerpenthrough daily recordreported that Celtic target Michel Ange Balikwish is available for a fee of £7.5m and the Antwerp winger could replace the Honduran striker.
Why Celtic should sign Michel Ange Balikwish
The Hoops are set to sign the Belgian youngster this month as he could come in as a major upgrade from Palma at left-wing for Rodgers.
Celtic’s current striker has, as mentioned above, produced very little of the kind in the last year, with his struggles in the upper half of the pitch, and Balikwisha could offer more than him in the final third.
However, it would not be a risk-free transfer, as the 23-year-old star has struggled with injuries this season, missed 21 games with thigh and muscle problems.
Celtic could, in theory, use this to their advantage and try to negotiate a lower price with Antwerp, due to his prolonged absence from the field this term, and then hope they can help him avoid further fitness issues.
His form, when fit, during the 2023/24 campaign suggests there is potential for him to come in as a fantastic addition to the squad if they can keep him fit.
|
23/24 Pro League |
Michel-Ange Balikwish |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
33 |
|
It starts |
27 |
|
xG |
6.46 |
|
Objectives |
7 |
|
Great chances were created |
6 |
|
Assists |
5 |
As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha was fit enough to feature in 33 league games last season and also scored a goal ten goals in 42 game in all competitions in the past season.
In those games, the Hoops goal, which was once described as one of the streak “amazing” young talents Antonio Mango’s U23 scout showed his quality in the last third, with 13 goals and created ‘big chances’.
While not outstanding, Nicolas Kuhn-level stats, Balikwisha are capable of scoring goals consistently, something Palma hasn’t done in 13 months or so.
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Therefore, the Belgian star, who also has plenty of room to develop at the age of 23, could come as a major upgrade on the coveted striker, offering more quality and consistency in the upper half of the pitch.
As a result, Celtic should put their bid for Balikwish on the line and pounce on Dinamo Antwerp before the end of the transfer window, while also allowing Palma to join one of the sides interested in signing him.
