Celtic could yet make a shock late decision to sign an alternative midfielder to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to reports.
O’Neill admits Oxlade-Chamberlain Celtic “talks”
It’s been a busy week at Celtic Park and one which began with three deadline-day additions as Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur all arrived.
The natural assumption was that Celtic’s business was done there, but that has not proved to be the case. Instead, the Bhoys have turned towards the free agent market and former Liverpool star Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Martin O’Neill has been as open and honest as ever about a potential deal to sign the midfielder too, telling reporters earlier this week: “Spoke to him but I’m sure he’ll have lots of options maybe closer to London as well too. But he was very affable, I must admit.
“I would be very interested in doing it, but I’m surprised that people haven’t taken him closer to the area and he’s telling me he’s training with Arsenal for quite some considerable time. And so in terms of fitness, it’s not match fitness, but it’s fine. We’ll see. And listen, he’s got loads of options.
Anthony Joseph drops major update on Celtic talks to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The Bhoys are closing in…
“I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows about the football club. He’s a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe’s spoken to him. Not on our behalf. It was just a conversation with Joe. But listen, it’s fine.”
As things stand, it looks as though Oxlade-Chamberlain will be heading to Scotland, but that’s not stopping Celtic from considering some surprising alternatives.
Celtic could make late twist to sign Bakayoko
According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Celtic could yet sign Tiemoue Bakayoko instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain in a late twist. The Bhoys are ready to reconsider a move to sign the former Serie A winner if a deal falls through for their top target.
It would hand Bakayoko his first club since leaving PAOK in the summer and his first British club since leaving Chelsea as a transfer flop in 2023.
It would certainly split opinion if Bakayoko arrived instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain at this stage. The 31-year-old hasn’t been the same since his Chelsea spell, when he was meant to be one of the best young midfielders that European football has to offer.
Now, at 31, he’s looking to get his career back on track after failing to get a move in the summer or in the January transfer window.