Confirmed: Celtic-linked Joseph Okumu completes move to Gent

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Reported Celtic target Joseph Okumu has completed his move to Belgium after KAA Gent announced his signature.

Okumu arrives from Swedish outfit Elfsborg. A fee for the deal has yet to be reported, but it’s been claimed in the past that the Kenyan international would’ve cost £3.4m [Aftonbladet].

Aftonbladet also claimed that Celtic were one of several teams to have tabled an offer for the player. Rangers, Gent, Reims, and Lorient were said to be the other contenders.

Okumu moves to Gent with an extremely promising reputation. Elfsborg sporting director Stefan Andreasson claimed earlier this summer that he is the “best ever” centre-back to play in Sweden’s top flight [Daily Record].

The player only made 41 appearances for Elfsborg during his short time in Sweden. After arriving from USA outfit Real Monarchs two years ago, the ball-playing centre-back hasn’t taken long to make an impression.

Joseph Okumu signs for Gent as another possible option evades Celtic

And it’s yet more transfer frustration for Celtic fans. Over five weeks after our last competitive game of football, a potential centre-back target moves elsewhere.

Whilst there’s no doubt Celtic have a list of potential candidates, it’s vital we move quickly. Okumu looked to be a player on the rise, even if his experience at the top level was still relatively tame.

It’s not the fact that Celtic haven’t beaten Gent to this one, it’s more the lack of activity we’re seeing from the club. Sure, new manager Ange Postecoglou has been in self-isolation in recent times. However, we’ve just extended the contract of Anthony Ralston [Scottish Sun]. Decisions are clearly being made, so why haven’t we been able to press ahead with transfer work?

As things stand, Celtic’s centre-back situation couldn’t be more worrying. Should Kris Ajer leave, and that looks more like a when and not if scenario, then look at our potential back-line. We could be going into the Champions League qualifiers with only Stephen Welsh and Nir Bitton available.

That there hasn’t been an inkling of an update on a new centre-back over the last couple of weeks is a major concern. Letting Okumu slip through the grasps isn’t a disaster, but the continued wait to recruit is.

If you’d have told fans five weeks ago that we still wouldn’t have made a signing, many would’ve chuckled. Now, it’s reality.

In other news, how much Freddie Woodman would reportedly cost Celtic and what his club has told him.