Celtic make offer to sign attacker compared to Jota as Hoops receive reply

da aviator aposta： Celtic are planning a busy end to the transfer window with Brendan Rodgers wanting at least three more signings coming through the door. The Hoops boss wants to sign a new winger, striker and centre-back to compete for the Scottish Premiership and in Europe.

da brwin： Rodgers has already made six signings this summer but believes more signings will allow them to compete on multiple fronts, especially if they qualify for the Champions League.

The first of these new signings have been identified as Celtic have put in a bid for one of their long-term forward targets.

Rodgers and Celtic bid for Jota-like winger

Celtics hunt for a new winger might come in the form of long-term target Michel-Ange Balikwisha. Balikwisha is similar in his position and style of play to Jota, as per Football Transfers, so he would be a suitable replacement while the Portuguese star is recovering from his injury.

Sports Witness have reported that the Hoops’ interest in Balikwisha first started last summer when Rodgers attempted to sign him. The report also shares that Celtic and Royal Antwerp had negotiations on his signing and that injuries to the Belgian forward halted the deal.

This summer, Celtic are seen as ‘currently the most concrete option’ for Balikwisha’s next team. The Scottish champions have reportedly put in a bid of unknown value, however, that was rejected by Antwerp. It seems the 24-year-old could cost Celtic up to £4.7 million as Antwerp are hoping to recoup most of what they spent on him in 2021.

Balikwisha injury concerns

Celtic have a long-term interest in Balikwisha, and with a similar profile to Jota, he could be a good fit to join the club. However, the deal has failed to come to fruition once before because of his injuries, and it’s certainly a factor that needs to be taken into consideration.

Balikwisha’s Injury History Since Joining Antwerp

Season

Days Missed (Games Missed)

Injury

24/25

205 (29)

2x Unspecified Muscle

1x Torn Thigh

23/24

49 (10)

Knee Surgery

22/23

103 (14)

1x Unspecified Muscle

1x Torn Thigh Muscle

21/22

51 (10)

1x Hip Injury

1x Hamstring Injury

Total

408 (63)

8 Injuries

Even in Balikwisha’s best season at Antwerp, he missed 10 games through injury. However, his best seasons are far less concerning than his worst, as last year he was only available for 17 of Antwerp’s 46 games.

It is not certain that, just because Balikwisha has experienced these injuries at Antwerp, that he would continue to at Celtic. A change in medical staff and physio department might be needed to help the 24-year-old train so that his injuries are not as frequent, but there’s no guarantee of this, and he may just be an injury-prone player.

Celtic will have to take this into consideration when they decide whether or not to make a new offer. From the report, this has been an issue that has deterred them from this transfer in the past, so Rodgers and his team need to decide whether he is worth the money.