With little over a week until the transfer window closes, Celtic appear to be firming up their advances for some potential new arrivals.
In the forward areas, LAFC forward Mateutz Bogusz is in talks with the Bhoys over a potential move to Glasgow that could cost circa £6.8 million to £8.5 million. Earlier today, reports indicated that Celtic could also recruit Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty to bolster their defensive ranks.
The United States international is on their radar to help out Cameron Carter-Vickers amid suggestions Mikey Johnston could be included as a potential makeweight. Nevertheless, there is also news on the topic of confirmed and potential outgoings.
Yuki Kobayashi has left the club permanently for Portimonense. Gustaf Lagerbielke, who is on the radar of Heerenveen and Derby County, could join him.
Matt O’Riley is nearing a move to Brighton & Hove Albion after the Seagulls submitted a bid in the region of £26 million, so there is plenty of speculation on potential moving parts before the deadline. Now, Simon Donnelly has responded to a suggestion that Celtic should pursue a Scotland international.
Simon Donnelly reacts to Celtic transfer suggestion
The other elephant in the room besides O’Riley is speculation involving Kyogo Furuhashi amid interest from Manchester City in the Japan international. Setting the bar high, Celtic won’t settle for anything under £20 million. It is worth nothing that nothing has progressed beyond initial admiration at this point.
Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Donnelly responded to a suggestion that the Bhoys should consider bringing in Heart of Midlothian striker Lawrence Shankland if their need for attacking reinforcements hastens.
Explaining the difference between both players, he stated: “Listen, I don’t know want to disrespect Lawrence Shankland, he done brilliant last year, and he’s a finisher. In our league, he can score goals, he’s shown it week in, and week out, but he’s a different player to Kyogo,
“I’ve watched him for three seasons. He’s (Furuhashi is) a real team player; he’s got an eye for goal and movement, but his constant harassing of defenders as well, that front line, he’s very, very mobile.
“That’s probably the opposite of what Shankland does. Shankland is very much a penalty box striker, and he probably would get chances at Celtic; he probably would score goals, but as a replacement for Kyogo, not for me.”
Celtic unlikely to pursue Lawrence Shankland
Donnelly is correct; Shankland is a goalscorer who has proven his worth in the Scottish Premiership, but it seems unlikely that he would ever wear green and white at Celtic.
The 29-year-old isn’t in the usual mould of striker the Bhoys would target to spearhead their frontline. Furthermore, his lack of sell-on value wouldn’t fit the business model of buying before offloading for a tidy profit.
Deservedly, the former Dundee United man earned a call-up to feature for Scotland at Euro 2024 after scoring 31 times in 2023/24. Nevertheless, it doesn’t feel like something that could be on the cards even if Celtic were to dip into the market for another striker.
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