Celtic ahead Michel-Ange Balikwisha made his first look in Martin O’Neill‘s second spell within the dugout towards Auchinleck Talbot on Sunday.
The DR Congo worldwide returned from the African Cup of Nations to begin within the quantity ten place towards the semi-professional aspect, however did not make a lot of an affect on the sport, as Johnny Kenny and Sebastian Tounekti scored the objectives in a 2-0 win.
Celtic agreed a deal of as much as £5m to signal Balikwisha from Commonplace Liege in the summertime switch window, and he has did not dwell as much as his price ticket to date.
The 24-year-old flop has racked up no objectives and two assists in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops this season, per Transfermarkt, and wasted his most up-to-date alternative to impress towards decrease league opposition.
Celtic make bid to signal new ahead
Balikwisha could not get too many extra possibilities to show his profession at Parkhead round, because the membership are reportedly trying to signal a participant who can be a giant improve on him.
In accordance with SportsWorldGhana, Celtic have submitted a suggestion to signal Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi within the January switch window.
Their accompanying report claims that the Hoops have made a ‘contemporary’ bid to land the left-footed ahead, who not too long ago returned from a mortgage spell with Rizespor in Turkey.
It follows up on a report that got here out over the weekend explaining that the Scottish giants had been in talks with Palace to signal the winger on mortgage with an possibility or obligation to signal him completely for £8m.
SportsWorldGhana backs up the weekend’s information that acknowledged the Hoops wished an possibility to purchase, and the Eagles need it to be an obligation, which is the sticking level in negotiations, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not this ‘contemporary’ bid shall be sufficient to get a deal accomplished.
Why Rak-Sakyi is a Balikwisha improve
As aforementioned, Balikwisha has struggled badly in a Celtic shirt this season, failing to attain a single aim, and Rak-Sakyi might are available in as an enormous improve for O’Neill.
Because the begin of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, per Sofascore, the DR Congo worldwide has scored 5 objectives and offered 4 assists in 34 appearances for Commonplace Liege and the Hoops mixed, which reveals that he has hardly ever made an affect on the prime finish of the pitch.
Celtic want gamers within the ahead areas who can present extra high quality, each when it comes to objectives and assists, which is why they need to maintain pushing to achieve an settlement with Palace for Rak-Sakyi.
Because the begin of final season, the English winger has scored 11 objectives and offered three assists in 47 video games for Sheffield United and Rizespor mixed, per Sofascore, which means that he would supply a significantly higher risk in entrance of aim than Balikwisha.
Rak-Sakyi, whose mixed tempo and high quality was dubbed “devastating” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 4 objectives in simply 11 appearances within the Tremendous Lig through the first half of this season earlier than returning to Palace.
|
25/26 |
Rak-Sakyi (Tremendous Lig) |
Balikwisha (Premiership) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
11 |
7 |
|
Objectives |
4 |
0 |
|
Photographs on course per sport |
0.8 |
0.1 |
|
Huge possibilities created |
2 |
1 |
|
Assists |
1 |
1 |
|
Dribbles accomplished per sport |
1.4 |
0.0 |
|
Dribble success charge |
44% |
0% |
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, the left-footed star has been far more practical on the prime finish of the pitch than Balikwisha within the 2025/26 marketing campaign, significantly as a goalscorer and a ball provider.
Rak-Sakyi, who can play on both flank or by means of the center as a striker or quantity ten (Transfermarkt), has proven that he can dribble previous opposition gamers frequently, having additionally accomplished 1.4 dribbles per match within the Championship for Sheffield United.
The shortage of capability proven with the ball at his toes by Balikwisha has been significantly irritating this season, as he has not accomplished a single dribble in seven Scottish Premiership video games, and that has contributed to his poor type as he has been unable to create possibilities for himself by taking gamers on.
Palace’s £8m-rated ahead, nevertheless, has the standard on the ball to create openings for himself by drifting previous gamers to make issues occur within the last third, which is why he’s such an thrilling participant.
Higher signing than Kovacevic: Celtic might land Kenny improve for £6.5m
Celtic might make a fair higher signing than Franko Kovacevic by swooping for this reported goal.
It’s now right down to the Scottish giants to work out a take care of Palace to deliver the left-footed ace to Parkhead as an enormous improve on Balikwisha earlier than the top of the window.
