Celtic fans are hoping and praying that their new attacking recruits can light up their declining season.
On transfer deadline day, Celtic added Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu to their attacking ranks, as Martin O’Neill goes on a title charge and tries to repair a problematic season.
What the champions of Scotland signed before O’Neill’s arrival is a big reason why the Hoops have gone backwards, as the 2025 summer transfer window is one many will want to forget.
One of the men who signed in that infamous window was Michel-Ange Balikwisha for £5 million, and now he isn’t even making Celtic’s matchday squad, as was proven against Falkirk last time out.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha: flop or unfairly treated?
Michel-Ange Balikwisha slammed as Celtic sign Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu
Hugh Keevins was speaking about Celtic’s options out wide, as Mvuka and Adamu were putting pen to paper on their loan deals in Glasgow.
That’s when Keevins mentioned the signing of Balikwisha, who didn’t make the matchday squad for Falkirk, and how he has been ‘a waste of money’, as he told Clyde 1.
“They bought Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who wasn’t even on the bench against Falkirk,” said Keevins. “He has been a £5 million waste of money.
“I agree they need to see if Joel Mvuka will be the answer. But it’s haphazard with Celtic, as I say, Balikwisha is an absolute waste of money. Not even on the bench when Celtic are trying to claw back a deficit with regard to Hearts.
“I agree, Sebastian Tounekti, Balikwisha, and Yang, they aren’t, for me, up to the job on a long-term basis.
“We will see if Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu can do what Tomas Cvancara threatens to do up front. But that remains to be seen.”
Is this Celtic’s strongest starting XI now that the transfer window has closed?
What does yours look like?
Martin O’Neill’s wide options for Celtic after the January transfer window closes
The positive now is that O’Neill has a variety of players to pick from to play out wide, as well as down the middle.
Even someone like Benjamin Nygren, who is Celtic’s top scorer, can operate out wide, but given his goalscoring exploits, he is probably going to remain in the middle of the park.
Nonetheless, here are the attacking wide options for O’Neill, now that the January transfer window has slammed shut. This doesn’t include the long-term injured Jota or Callum Osmand.
- Daizen Maeda (wide left and central)
- Hyunjun Yang (wide right)
- James Forrest (wide right)
- Sebastian Tounekti (wide left)
- Junior Adamu (wide right and central)
- Joel Mvuka (wide right)
- Michel-Ange Balikwisha (right and left)
- Benjamin Nygren (wide right)
- Luke McCowan (wide right)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (wide right)
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