Celtic have already announced a couple of new signings while a few other deals are believed to be on the verge of being agreed as well. There is a late twist in one long-running transfer saga though as it looks like talks have stalled for the Scottish champions due to the high asking fee for a player they have been looking to sign for a while now.
It is no secret that Celtic are looking to bolster their ranks on the wings. And one of the players who has been on their radar since last summer is Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Royal Antwerp.
It had looked like Celtic were moving in the right direction in the race to sign Balikwisha. Reports in Belgium had suggested that the player was keen on a move to Parkhead as well.
But now, things have hit a late stumbling block. As reported by Voetbal Primeur (via CeltsAreHere), talks between Celtic and Royal Antwerp have stalled with the Scottish champions said to be unwilling to meet the Belgian side current £5.1 million asking price.
Late twist as Celtic drop out of transfer race due to asking fee
It remains to be seen how things play out from here. This does not mean that the saga is completely over. But there is a stumbling block that the two clubs will need to overcome if a move is to happen.
Balikwisha was rated at twice that figure last summer. But he has endured a tough 24/25 campaign, missing the majority of the season due to injury. So, it is not hard to see why Celtic might not be keen to pay a big transfer fee for a player who has struggled with fitness lately.
Of course, Celtic have other targets on the wings as well. So, it will be interesting to see if they turn their attention elsewhere.