Celtic are set for a European deadline day transfer blitz with at least five new stars checking into Parkhead. The Hoops have nailed down deals for midfielders Oliver Sorensen and Joel van den Berg, keeper Sam Johnstone and Chelsea wonderkid Shim Mheuka – and are pushing hard to land Torino’s Gvidas Geneitis. Parkhead chiefs are poised to tie up Stamford Bridge kid Landon Emenalo for the campaign.
Exit moves for Hatate and Kenny
But Record Sport understands a bid for Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny is a non-starter, with the Northern Ireland star set to join Stoke City. Reo Hatate is working on an exit to the English Championship – with options further afield – while Johnny Kenny was heading south to thrash out a £3m move to Preston.
The pair will be allowed to go with Martin O’Neill determined to bolster his squad ahead of tonight’s 11pm deadline to register players for the Europa League. Van den Berg is landing from PSV in a move worth £3.4m, Sorensen is a season loan deal from Parma with an option to buy next summer while Johnstone is on loan from Wolves for 12 months, along with England youth international Mheuka and his teammate Emenalo.
European deadline pressure
The Scottish transfer window closes on Thursday at 5pm but any additions beyond Wednesday evening would be ruled out of the League Phase in Europe. Celtic assistant boss Shaun Maloney said: “I think with that European deadline, we want to try and get them in the squad if we can. In fairness, I think these are the really key decisions with Martin, Michael Nicholson and the board and things. They will generally be the ones making the key decisions but from the coaching point of view, yes, we will be looking to try and strengthen that squad, particularly the European squad for that deadline.”
Maloney added: “I think the four lads that we brought in (Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan) we’ve been really happy with. All the sort of profiles that we needed and certain positions that we’ve probably needed to fill for probably for about 12 months or so. There are some key positions that we still need a little bit of work on in the next couple of days. There might be some others, the club might decide to do business for the future of the club as well. Some really key positions within the squad, you are looking at three or four. If there is any more than that, I think it will be for the future.”
Left back priority and injury updates
Maloney admitted left back is a priority despite Kieran Tierney’s injury not being as bad as first feared. The full back will miss tonight’s clash with Aberdeen but could return to face St Mirren on Saturday – along with Hogh, who has a similar thigh strain. But striker Callum Osmand is facing more than a month out with an ankle injury.
O’Neill wants back up for Tierney and said: “We hope so. I think that position we have known about since Marcelo Saracchi left us at the end of the season. I think Martin spoke already that he would have liked him back. I think that is a position that we have really needed to fill and with the right type. We need somebody to keep challenging KT. KT has been really, really good this year. But we do need that position filled pretty quickly.”
Wolves keeper Johnstone will be confirmed today on loan for the season and the 33-year-old former England cap will scrap it out with Viljami Sinisalo for the no.1 shirt. Maloney said: “It’s the same as outfield for me. Vil’s been fantastic for us this season. Whichever goalkeeper comes in, I think you have to say, ‘It’s up to you. You go and try and push for that position.”
