Celtic ended their season on Saturday and the eye will now flip to the summer time switch window and what they should enhance the squad to go once more subsequent time period.
The Hoops already know that they could must bolster their choices out huge after Portuguese winger Jota suffered an damage that’s set to maintain him out for a big chunk of the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
He was compelled off with a knee damage through the first half of the 5-0 win over Dundee United and is now set for between six and 9 months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament damage.
Which means that the attacker, who rejoined the Hoops from Rennes on a everlasting deal in January, may miss most or all the first half of subsequent season.
Jota had produced 4 targets and two assists in seven begins within the Scottish Premiership previous to his damage blow, which illustrates the type of high quality that Brendan Rodgers has misplaced due to this information.
Celtic might, due to this fact, be available in the market for a brand new winger in the summertime switch window, which formally opens for enterprise subsequent month, and one ahead who’s of curiosity to the membership is Sondre Orjasaeter.
Why Sondre Orjasaeter may very well be a very good signing for Celtic
Writing for Sky Sports activities on Saturday, journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the membership may return in with a transfer for the Sarpsborg star this summer time.
The reporter added that the Premiership champions had a number of bids turned down for the Norway youth worldwide, earlier than they ultimately signed Jota from Rennes.
67HailHail reported throughout that window that the Hoops had a suggestion of £4.4m turned down for the 21-year-old starlet as a result of the Norwegian aspect had been holding out for a price of £7m.
£7m is a major amount of money to splash on a younger expertise who has not confirmed himself exterior of his personal nation, however his kind for Sarpsborg does counsel that the potential is there for him to be an thrilling signing for Celtic.
Sondre Orjasaeter (Eliteserien) | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
Appearances | 28 | 7 |
Targets | 5 | 1 |
Large possibilities missed | 5 | 2 |
Large possibilities created | 12 | 7 |
Key passes per sport | 1.9 | 2.0 |
Assists | 5 | 2 |
Dribbles accomplished per sport | 2.4 | 2.7 |
Stats by way of Sofascore | ||
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, Orjasaeter has supplied high quality as each a scorer and a creator of targets, primarily the latter, within the Eliteserien for the reason that begin of final 12 months, which is why he may very well be a wonderful signing to fill the void left by Jota’s damage.
Nonetheless, the £7m price ticket may very well be a sticking level, significantly with Jota attributable to return in some unspecified time in the future subsequent season, and that’s the reason they may look to an alternate choice to neglect about Orjasaeter.
Celtic may return for Belgian star
Within the aforementioned article for Sky Sports activities, Anthony Joseph additionally reported that Royal Antwerp attacker Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been a long-term switch goal for Celtic.
The journalist added that the 24-year-old wizard has been extremely advisable to the membership by their scouts, who’ve been impressed by his performances in Belgium.
Joseph claimed that the Scottish giants may go in with a swoop for the Professional League star within the upcoming summer time switch window, and he may come cheaper than Orjasaeter would.
The Scottish Solar reported in April that the spectacular winger is at present valued at £5m by Royal Antwerp, which implies that he may very well be £2m cheaper than the Norwegian whizkid.
With this in thoughts, Rodgers may neglect all about Orjasaeter and save the membership £2m in switch charges by pushing for the board to signal Balikwisha as an emergency alternative for Jota this summer time.
Why Celtic ought to signal Michel-Ange Balikwisha
As per UEFA, Belgium is at present ranked the eighth finest European league primarily based on the coefficient rankings, three locations above Norway in eleventh. This means that the usual in Belgium, at the least among the many prime golf equipment, is best than the usual in Norway.
You can, due to this fact, put extra weight behind Balikwisha’s performances within the Professional League than Orjasaeter’s within the Eliteserien when judging how efficient they may very well be at making an affect at Celtic, significantly within the Champions League, subsequent season.
While the Norwegian starlet has caught the attention with six targets and 7 assists in his final 35 Eliteserien video games for Sarpsborg, the Belgian ace has delivered comparable ranges of high quality while taking part in in a tougher league.
One scout, Emir, on X, described the £5m-rated star as a winger who “wins video games on his personal” and a “no-brainer” signing for prime groups as a result of he is able to take the step to the subsequent degree.
Balikwisha’s performances within the Professional League counsel that he’s a participant who could be a difference-maker within the last third to win matches for his aspect, with targets and assists.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Professional League) | 23/24 | 24/25 |
|---|---|---|
Begins | 27 | 11 |
xG | 6.46 | 2.26 |
Targets | 7 | 4 |
Large possibilities created | 6 | 7 |
Key passes per sport | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Assists | 5 | 3 |
Stats by way of Sofascore | ||
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, the Belgian gem has produced 11 targets and ‘huge possibilities’ created in 11 begins within the Professional League this season since coming back from damage, which speaks to the type of high quality he can present on the prime finish of the pitch.
Balikwisha, who’s a right-footed left-winger, has additionally outperformed his xG in every of the final two seasons within the Belgian top-flight, which exhibits that he will be an efficient and environment friendly finisher in entrance of objective.
The Celtic goal additionally produced one objective and one help in two Champions League qualifiers to assist his aspect qualify for the group stage within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, earlier than scoring one objective in 5 matches within the group stage.
This exhibits that, in contrast to Orjasaeter, he additionally has expertise on the highest stage of European soccer, which may very well be helpful forward of Celtic’s qualifiers for the competitors later this 12 months.
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Celtic are anticipated to make a transfer to signal a star who may take Arne Engels to the subsequent degree.
Due to this fact, Rodgers should urge Celtic to neglect about Orjasaeter by signing Balikwisha, who may present extra high quality and expertise while costing £2m much less this summer time.
