Celtic: Ismaila Soro passes medical but awaits permit ahead of Bnei Yehuda move
- Published
Celtic hope Ismaila Soro "will be in Glasgow as soon as possible" after the Bnei Yehuda midfielder passed a medical ahead of his proposed transfer.
The 21-year-old is awaiting a work permit after a fee was struck between the clubs and a four-and-a-half-year contract agreed with the player.
Ivory Coast-born Soro has played 20 times this season for the side sitting seventh in the Israeli top flight.
He signed for Bnei from Belarusian club Gomel in 2018.
Soro, who started his career with Saxan in Moldova, will also require international clearance before being able to make his Celtic debut.
Asked if Soro could be ready in time for Saturday's visit of Ross County, Celtic manager Neil Lennon said: "That's a possibility. We don't know the complete paperwork that's been done but we're very pleased he's passed a medical, as we expected him to do anyway."
Meanwhile, Jack Hendry has joined Melbourne City on loan, while fellow defender Lee O'Connor, who has yet to break into the first team but earned his first Republic of Ireland cap this season, has joined Partick Thistle until the end of the season.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Tuesday revealed that Nir Bitton has had a scan on an injury that he expects to only sideline the midfielder for "a couple of weeks".
The manager also suggested that a groin injury to Bitton's Israeli international team-mate, defender Hatem Abd Elhamed, was "not as a bad as we first thought" but could not put a timescale on his return.
However, although winger James Forrest will not be fit to face Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Lennon expected the Scotland winger to be back at the weekend.
Defender Kristoffer Ajer and forward Mikey Johnston have both returned to fitness along with Ryan Christie, although the Scotland midfielder misses out at Rugby Park through suspension.