Celtic submit last-gasp bid to sign £5m forward

Celtic are in a strange position heading into the final few days of the summer transfer window, having just been knocked out of the Champions League.

The Hoops may have been hoping to have the extra funds to target bigger signings before the deadline, but they may have to find other ways to raise money for new additions, including cashing in on their current stars.

According to Anthony Joseph, Adam Idah had a medical at Swansea on Friday ahead of a £7m move to Wales, 12 months on from his £9.5m switch to Celtic from Norwich.

Allowing the Ireland international to move on, though, could provide the Scottish Premiership champions with a chance to reinvest in Brendan Rodgers’ squad in the next few days.

Celtic preparing bid for new winger

Whilst Idah’s exit will create the need for a new striker to arrive at Parkhead, the Scottish giants are also looking to bring in another winger on top of Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are still pursuing a last-gasp deal to sign Hammarby forward Sebastian Tounekti.

The reporter claims that the Hoops have made a second offer for the winger after they already had a first proposal of around £2.6m turned down by the Swedish side.

He reveals that the Scottish giants have offered a deal worth up to £4.7m for the wing wizard, who is said to be valued at £5m, and it remains to be seen what their answer will be.

The winger was recently quoted saying: “You get to know some of what’s going on and I’ve heard that there’s interest. Of course it’s great that a big club (Celtic) that often plays in the Champions League wants me. It’s a top club in Europe. It’s great that there’s that kind of interest and it shows that you’ve done something good.”

What Tounekti could bring to Celtic

One player who could benefit from the club getting a deal over the line for the Swedish attacker is Daizen Maeda, who could love the creative forward.

The Japan international scored a staggering 33 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions last season, per Transfermarkt, but his only goal in six outings this term came against Falkirk in the League Cup.

Tounekti predominantly plays on the left wing and could free Maeda up to play through the middle as a striker, particularly with Idah’s impending exit, and the 23-year-old star has the creative quality to be a dream for the current Celtic marksman.

In 19 league starts this year, as you can see in the table above, the £3m-rated attacker has been one of the most creative players in his home country’s top-flight.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to be an incredibly creative figure out wide for Celtic, as a player who can consistently beat opposition players as a dribbler whilst also creating high-quality chances for his teammates on a regular basis.

This is why Maeda, who has yet to replicate his goalscoring exploits from last season, may love to play alongside Tounekti at Parkhead this season for the Hoops.

The Celtic target could be the creative spark out wide that Maeda needs to rediscover his shooting boots and hit the goal trail on a regular basis for Rodgers once again, which is why this is a potentially exciting signing for the club for multiple reasons.