Celtic’s January transfer window is still less than a week away.
As Wilfried Nancy looks to get the team in his image, there are already plenty of names being banded about as potential targets.
Ibrahim Diabate and Diego Rossi’s names have been raised over the festive period – both would offer some much-needed goals to the team.
Another is left-footed winger Jocelin Ta Bi, who plays for Hapoel Petah Tikva in Israel. The 19-year-old will reportedly be on the move in January.
And his agent has now been discussing the interest, from Celtic and other European clubs.
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Jocelin Ta Bi’s agent discusses Celtic January links
Ta Bi would offer Celtic a profile of player they haven’t had since Nicolas Kuhn’s departure in the summer.
But as a teenager who has only had six months in the Israeli Premier League, he certainly wouldn’t be the finished product yet.
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Ta Bi’s agent, Stav Hachmon, has however revealed that Ta Bi is ‘ready’ to step up to a higher level, he said as he revealed the details of the interest.
He told Sport 5: “The offer is €2.8million, with Tubruk receiving 20 percent of the sale after reimbursement of expenses…
“While Hapoel Petah Tikva is asking for between €600k and €1million as compensation for the player’s departure in the January window.
“Celtic are talking but willing to pay less but leave Netanya a percentage of a future sale.
“Talks are continuing even though the player is injured and both Gent and Celtic want to see that this is not an injury that will make it difficult for him to return soon.
“In any case, Petah Tikva is aware of the offer that was submitted, as the player himself feels ready to move to a higher league.”
Gent have chased Celtic targets before, beating the Hoops to the signing of Tiago Araujo two years ago.
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The career of Celtic target Jocelin Ta Bi
Ta Bi came through at Ivorian club JC Abidjan, and found himself moving to Israel early in his playing career.
He joined Maccabi Netanya last summer, immediately going on loan to Hapoel Petah Tikva in the second tier.
After helping them to promotion, his performances this season have caught eyes throughout Europe, and could land Netanya a fortune despite him never making an appearance for them.
As a winger, he doesn’t fit directly into Nancy’s formation… he might need to learn how to play as a wing-back.
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