Everybody knows the real reason why Celtic suddenly wants Joel Mvuka

As Monday's transfer deadline rapidly approaches, French publications are reporting that Celtic are pushing to sign Lorient winger Joel Mvuka.

It is being said that a deal has already been struck for the player to don the Hoops, so it is set to be an interesting day for fans of the club.

Starting out at Åsane, Mvuka made 20 appearances for the Norwegian side before making the move to Bodø/Glimt.

He won the Eliteserien twice with them and was named Young Player of the Month in May 2023.

He made the jump to Lorient in France for the 2023/24 season, but the club suffered relegation from Ligue 1. They managed to bounce back the following season, finishing first in the second division, but Mvuka has struggled for game time since their promotion.

Mvuka has been capped 16 times for Norway's Under-21s and is hopeful of making the World Cup. His ambitions of playing on the international stage are no doubt why a move to Celtic will appeal to the young player.

Primarily played as a right winger, Mvuka can also slot into the wing-back position. With a player of such variety, it makes him a brilliant addition to Marin O'Neill's Celtic side.

The finances look appealing...

It is rumoured that the deal could go through with Celtic paying as little as £2-3 million. With some other targets costing £5-6 million, is this a sign of intent from the Celtic board?

Fans have complained all season about how the board are unwilling to spend their finances, with some sets of supporters even refusing to put their own cash into the club as part of the 'Not Another Penny' campaign.

The January transfer window has long frustrated Hoops fans and this one has been no different. There hasn't been a permanent transfer completed this window yet, and although Mvuka looks like a decent option, it might not help the opinion of the board.

Talks stalled with other targets

Further discussion was set to take place with Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis today, but according to journalist Anthony Joseph, talks have stalled after the clubs have been unable to reach an agreement. The disagreement comes after the structure of a deal worth £6.5 million could not be decided.

Fans believe that Celtic are desperately in need of more talent on the wing, so an agreement for either player would go down well. However, if the club aren't willing to pay the right money, then they won't get their intended targets.