Celtic face competition for winger target as Trabzonspor join race for January transfer

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We are now two days away from the January transfer window.

And for Wilfried Nancy and Celtic, there isn’t much room for patience as the market opens.

Celtic’s squad is ravaged by injuries, and that isn’t even mentioning the multiple clear gaps in suitable personnel for Nancy’s system.

The Frenchman has plenty on his plate before then, with top-end clashes with Motherwell and Rangers to come.

But one man he is reportedly targeting is generating interest from a club who are fairly pestering Celtic this month.

Trabzonspor join Celtic in the race for Jocelin Ta Bi

Trabzonspor are reportedly in for Daizen Maeda, with Turkish media saying that he would be available for roughly £14 million.

They are also said to be in talks with Wessam Abou Ali, the Palestinian striker who was signed by Nancy at Columbus in the summer.

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And now, according to Turkish journalist Safacan Konuksever via Tivibu Spor, they have ‘placed Jocelin Ta Bi on their agenda’ ahead of January.

Trabzonspor just won’t leave us alone, it seems.

Ta Bi is also attracting interest from Belgium, and is widely expected to move in the winter window. It’s just a question of who wins the race.

And with Celtic without a left-footed winger profile since the departure of Nicolas Kuhn, Ta Bi could offer a long-awaited replacement for the German.

He is on loan at Israeli side Hapoel Petah Tikva from Maccabi Netanya, earning rave reviews for his performances since their promotion to the top-flight.

He is 20 years old and hails from Ivory Coast, but isn’t involved in their squad at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Celtic have also been linked with Ibrahim Diabate, Milutin Osmajic and Julian Araujo in recent days.

Jocalin Ta Bi’s agent on Celtic links

Ta Bi’s agent, Stav Hachmon, told Sport 5 that the 20-year-old is ‘ready’ to step up to a higher level.

Hachmon said: “The [Gent] 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.”