It’s been one of the main Celtic transfer sagas of the summer.
The Hoops have been strongly linked with signing Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha for weeks now, with transfer discussions reportedly kicking off in early July.
But really, it’s clear nobody really knows what is happening at the moment.
Balikwisha’s agent claimed Celtic haven’t approached Antwerp yet, but the Daily Record are stating that the Hoops are set to push forward and make a move for him.
Now, a fresh update has landed and it’s more believable than recent reports regarding Balikwisha.
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Celtic target Balikwisha in ‘advanced’ Ligue 1 club talks
According to Topmercato reporter Romain Lantheaume, Balikwisha is in advanced talks with a Ligue 1 club who qualified for Europe this season.
The Belgian is also said to be closely followed by German duo Hoffenheim and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Lantheaume ends his report by stating Leeds United and Sunderland are the final two clubs interested in Balikwisha.
There is zero mention of Celtic in his report, which suggests the Hoops are floundering and lagging in the hunt to sign the Belgian Pro League star.
That would be no surprise given the lack of substance in the reportage of this long-drawn-out transfer saga.
With a Ligue 1 club qualified for Europe in advanced discussions and two Premier League teams reportedly still interested, do Celtic really have any chance?
Who is the mystery French club?
We can narrow that question down to seven clubs competing in the French top-flight. They are PSG, Marseille, Monaco, Nice, Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg.
It’s unlikely to be Club World Cup runners-up PSG, but it genuinely could be any of the other five, with perhaps Strasbourg one of the least likely potential destinations too.
Balikwisha is contracted at Antwerp until June 2026 and it’s almost certain he will leave this summer given the need for the Belgian side to sell due to financial constraints.
Celtic are clearly falling out of the race and it seems more likely he will sign for someone else this summer.
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