Joel Mvuka looks set to be Celtic’s first permanent signing of the January transfer window.
Martin O’Neill has been made to wait for a winger, just as he had to for a striker, which eventually came in the form of Tomas Cvancara.
As we head into Deadline Day, Cvancara remains the only signing completed since O’Neill was brought back to the club following the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.
Celtic are locked in a three-way title-race, with Hearts and Rangers also strengthening in the winter window, which could prove decisive in where the trophy ends up in May.
So there’s a fair bit of pressure on Mvuka, as he comes in to bolster O’Neill’s wide options.
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Joel Mvuka’s Celtic fee
Lorient paid €5.5 million for Mvuka’s services when they signed him from Bodo/Glimt three years ago.
He has never quite found consistency, in his career with the French side, during which he has been relegated and re-promoted to Ligue 1.
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We learned in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Falkirk that January signings can make an instant contribution – Mvuka will have to displace an in-form Yang Hyun-Jun if he is to nail down a spot at right-wing.
It is now being widely reported by outlets including Sky Sports and the Daily Record that a fee of £3 million has been agreed to bring Mvuka to Glasgow.
The 23-year-old hasn’t registered a single goal or assist this season and no longer features in Lorient’s plans.
The Brittany-based club currently sit in ninth place in Ligue 1 and gave Moritz Jenz on loan to Celtic in the summer of 2022.
Mvuka was a teammate of Sebastian Tounekti’s during his Bodo/Glimt days, and is one of many recruitment success stories at the Norwegian club.
He has never been capped by his country, but has his eyes on a place in their World Cup squad; a motivation for his move to Glasgow.
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Martin O’Neill’s transfer revelation
Speaking after the Falkirk win, O’Neill told BBC Radio Scotland: “Yeah, we are (getting closer).
“We’ve some medicals here at this minute, and hopefully everything’s fine, fingers crossed, that the players come through, and that we’ve got a couple and we’re maybe hoping to add, even at this very, very late on.
“I think there’s one or two, like every single club that has been in business, have done some business, have been thwarted with other things, and it’s exactly the same with us.
“But we’re staying there to the end, and let’s see what happens.”
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