Balikwisha on the way, Stengs looking hopeful, just add a proven goalscorer and a back-up left back and we’re – better late than never – good to go…
Antwerp’s Michel Ange Balikwisha celebrates after scoring during the match between Royal Antwerp FC and OH Leuven, Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp, on day 3 of the 2025-2026 Jupiler Pro League first division of the Belgian championship. Photo Tom Goyvaerts IMAGO / Belga
The long awaited Michel–Ange Balikwisha saga looks to be nearing an end with reports suggesting a move for the Belgian winger is imminent. It’s taken much longer than expected due to some issues surrounding the deal, but it looks as if Celtic is now ready to add some much needed creativity into our lacklustre attacking third.
UEFA Champions League: Feyenoord v Celtic Rotterdam – Calvin Stengs of Feyenoord scoring the 1-0 during the 1st leg of the UEFA Champions League between Feyenoord v Celtic at Stadion Feijenoord De Kuip on 19 September 2023 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Photo Yannick Verhoeven
Yet more encouraging news has came to light in that we have also initiated contact with Dutch winger Calvin Stengs, and his club Feyenoord have set a price for the 26 year old winger which is believed to well within our price range.
Stengs like Balikwisha is a tricky wide player with great pace and eye for goal, with both possessing a great pedigree and European experience, so it goes without saying that they will undoubtedly improve our attacking options.
He can also score from free-kicks which would be a nice change for Celtic.
All we need now is a proven goalscorer to further enhance our firepower which at the moment is pretty powderpuff to say the least. And last but not least a back-up left back for Kieran Tierney who is still some way away from being able to play a full match.
If we want to remain successful we need the required quality, and players such as Balikwisha and Stengs are two that come under that category. The other two need to be decent players too, especially the long-awaited Kyogo replacement.
Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s opening goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
And with three forward additions hopefully coming through the Parkhead gates in the next week or so a reminder to the Celtic Board that this is NOT an excuse to sell Daizen Maeda. You have already sold Kyogo and Khun and that’s more than enough.
Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Bring in the four targets, Brendan gets us through to the Champions League on Tuesday, then new deals for the manager and Daizen and we really are set for a tremendous season instead of strife and infighting.
It’s all in your hands, Michael.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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The only thing I have to say is “Too little, too late.”
I’m afraid it’d take more than a few overdue signings to get Rodgers to sign an extension as I’m sure you know, as well as the signings you pointed out that are a basic requirement I think Brendan would want some assurances WRITTEN IN BLOOD
If it’s written in blood I know whose I want it to be and I hope it is done with 12 inch brush and in Forty coats.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, wait until these players are photographed with the scarf above their heads, it looks promising though.
Well written, straight to the point article, Just An Ordinary Bhoy. Hopefully these signings come to fruition but as for Rodgers signing a new deal, forget it. The board have put the kybosh on that that with their incompetence on transfers.
fantasy but it sells season tickets
I think we’ll go for the wingers (badly needed!) and play with Daizen as the front man. And maybe a back up LB although probably a loan this late on. As you say, better late than never but if we’re doing deals now (before we progress) then it suggests we could of course have done them earlier. I wonder if the sack the board chants hit home. Did they think nothing would be said? Anyway we’ll get behind the lads and BR, they deserve the backing. HH
Look, we don’t really know exactly what goes on at Celtic. We do, though, need more information from the Board. I am afraid that Brendan Rodgers, for all the talk about him being a great manager, is not quite as described. He got lucky in England once. He left us for the money in England. He gets by with players that Ange signed and his signings have often not been as hoped. This is his forward line. His centre forward. His cock up.
Chris i think you may be right about Brenden Rogers he is saying we need to spend and bring in more quality. he brought in Engels and Trusty and Idah and Mawrocki and Lagerbecke all for decent money none of them were playing on Weds night so should we really trust him with more spending. As for sack the board what really, this board have been there through all the trophy wins for what 20 years . One blip on the field and they get the blame every time. Celtic is one of the best run clubs in the world and long may it continue, why should we pay millions for players who are at best average in this crazy football world.
Chris your talking utter nonsense! Brendan created the modern Celtic where Trebles became the norm he showed what could and should be achieved! Before him yes men like Lennon and most of the former managers lost big games regular! Oh and no more of the ‘ ange” guy living in Australia as I have for years he was trying to work his ticket from the off see over there its seen as ” celebrity ” the ” epl mhate” its pathetic you need to live there to know but that clown would left us after 6 months if even a Burnley offered a contract , he us no Brendan Ridgers who by the way never got ” lucky” he is a proven! Top mangers and every club he worked for for any length of time its the aussie that got ” lucky” without is Celtic he was a nobody I lived in Sydney and no one there gave a toss about him until he was at Celtic then it was ” get to epl” so stop talking utter p##h! You clown shoe
That’s BS mate! I live in my Eliza and have been here in Aus for 20 years, Ange was/is a hero for the most part after his WC exploits with the national team, he was very well known for his on air argument with Foster and had a massive profile! The most highly regarded ‘soccer’ coach in the land by far before we signed him!
I agree BR is a very good manager/coach, his signings are hit and miss though, that can’t be denied.
The first comment summed it up for me, too little too late! Damage is done. I am not continuing to accept mediocrity from the board, their track record of signing late with panic buys or not at all is horrendous and rightfully callled out.
Love to see BR sign a new deal, won’t happen and that our loss!&
It would be great if you could introduce a set of stories that are original, rather than rehashed information from the Scottish mainstream media. Very, very lazy.