Martin O’Neill confirmed that Celtic are on the point of making their first everlasting signing of the month – with a £6.5million deal for French winger Fares Ghedjemis considered nearing completion.
The Parkhead membership – who secured their place within the Europa League knockout play-off spherical with a 4-2 win over Utrecht – are additionally in talks with Hungarian ahead Damir Redzic, but it surely appears extra probably that Ghedjemis will arrive as a substitute.
Ghedjemis is a pacy 23-year-old extensive man who performs for Italian second division aspect Frosinone. Redzic, 22, performs throughout the entrance line for Slovak aspect DAC Dunajska Streda, and in addition has a suggestion from RB Salzburg.
It’s believed a charge and private phrases are actually agreed with Ghedjemis and he’s set to journey to Glasgow to finish formalities.
Requested in regards to the prospect of signing each gamers, O’Neill mentioned after the Utrecht recreation: ‘I’ve acquired to inform you, you wouldn’t be 1,000,000 miles away. They’re each wingers. Would it not be one or the opposite? It could possibly be.’
On whether or not he was extra assured of constructing a signing than 24 hours in the past, he mentioned: ‘Really, I believe I’m. There’s progress right now on sure issues, sure. I don’t need to be that cryptic. I’d hate to say one thing is completely sure after which it fell away.’
Fares Ghedjemis is about to grow to be Celtic’s first everlasting signing of January window
Auston Trusty roars with delight after scoring Celtic’s essential fourth aim towards Utrecht
Trusty rises highest to satisfy Arne Engels’ nook with a robust header which made it 4-2
Needing a win to progress, Celtic raced right into a three-goal lead towards the Dutch inside 19 minutes. Issues turned nervy after they misplaced two delicate objectives both aspect of half-time, however Auston Trusty scored a fourth with a towering header, and Celtic completed twenty first within the 36-team group to make it via.
They’ll discover out right now if they’ll face Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros or Stuttgart within the play-off spherical, with the primary leg in Glasgow on February 19.
The Hungarians beat Rangers earlier within the competitors, whereas Stuttgart are presently fifth within the Bundesliga.
‘I’m delighted, clearly, with the consequence for a begin,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘It was good, we performed actually strongly for the primary 20 minutes and acquired ourselves in entrance, a few nice objectives, then it acquired a little bit bit nervy once we went to 3-2, however Trusty scored an incredible header.
‘General, I used to be delighted with the efficiency. You’ll have gotten lengthy odds about us qualifying after about 4 video games or one thing like this right here.
‘However nice credit score to the gamers, they labored tirelessly. And I simply mentioned to them earlier than the sport that final Thursday’s efficiency (a 2-2 attract Bologna) was magnificent, taking part in 60 minutes with 10 males.
‘The efficiency in Feyenoord (a 3-1 win in November) was nice. So, you simply didn’t need that to depend for nothing.’
Martin O’Neill’s workforce will now face Ferencvaros or Stuttgart in Europa League play-off spherical
Engels and Trusty share a hug after they mixed for fourth aim towards Dutch guests
Benjamin Nygren set Celtic on their method to victory with an early aim at Parkhead
There’s now a 50/50 probability that O’Neill might face former Celtic striker Keane, who was the star flip of his Republic of Eire aspect.
‘Robbie’s simply beginning his managerial profession,’ he mentioned. ‘And, from the beginning he’s made, he’s carried out actually, very well. So, he’s been an incredible participant as effectively. He’s acquired a little bit of pedigree.’
Celtic now have an opportunity to win a post-Christmas knockout tie for the primary time since O’Neill’s all-conquering aspect beat Barcelona in 2004.
‘I genuinely didn’t know that,’ mentioned the 73-year-old. ‘Proper that mistaken … there have been just a few wrongs in my time as effectively.
‘It’s genuinely good to be within the draw, actually. I’ve mentioned this earlier than, whether or not we’re adequate to proceed is one other problem, regardless. However it’s good truly to have one other recreation at Celtic Park in a knockout factor.’
