Winger 'expected' to sign four-year Celtic contract as Hoops make second January move amid manager drama Celtic are set to make a ...
Winger 'expected' to sign four-year Celtic contract as Hoops make second January move amid manager drama
Celtic are closing in on their second summer signing - amid the drama around the manager position.
The January transfer window is open and the Hoops have already made a move with the loan signing of Julian Araujo from Bournemouth. That’s far from the main talking point in Glasgow’s east-end though as Wilfried Nancy has gone after just eight games and over a month in charge, with Martin O’Neill returning to the club as head coach until the end of the season.
Head of football operations, Paul Tisdale, has also gone but recruitment work is still ongoing. That looks set to come to fruition through winger Jocelin Ta B.i who has impressed in Israel with Hapoel Petah Tikva, on loan from Maccabi Netanya, and is closing in on a permanent Celtic transfer. He is set to sign a contract spanning just over four years according to Foot Mercato with a fee in place for his arrival.
What winger are Celtic signing?
It’s claimed: “The Ivorian right winger, on loan from Maccabi Netanya, has seamlessly transitioned from the second division to the first division on another loan. An indispensable member of the Israeli team's starting eleven with 2 goals and 2 assists in 12 appearances, Jocelin Ta Bi has impressed with his dribbling skills, agility, and the quality of his left foot.
“These qualities attracted the attention of numerous European clubs, including Stade de Reims, Charleroi, Trabzonspor, and Celtic. Ultimately, however, it is Celtic Glasgow who are poised to secure his signature for €3 million. Members of the Scottish club's medical staff even travelled to Israel to conduct his medical examination.
“If all goes well, Jocelin Ta Bi, who has expressed his preference for the Glasgow club, is expected to sign a four-and-a-half-year contract with the current runners-up in the Scottish Premier League.”
Why has Martin O’Neill returned to Celtic?
When it comes to the manager position, O’Neill has opened up on the conversation with major shareholder Dermot Desmond that has beckoned another stint at the Celtic helm. He told the club’s media team: “The conversation I had with Dermot was (about) going through to the end of the season, giving the football club time to really look around and get someone in who is going to be in for the next three or four years.
“But, I am in the football business - I might not see it through to the end of the season, you have to win football matches. He (Nancy) was coming into it and I have been there before as a young coach; coming into an environment that you think you know about - I grew up knowing about Celtic but back in 2000 when I arrived I really did not realise just how big the football club was, and what it meant to people.
"From that point of view you are coming into a new environment, trying to take everything in at the same time, and trying to win football matches and it's a tough old business.”
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