Celtic

Image source, SNS

Manager Brendan Rodgers insists there will be no outgoings at Celtic until the club have replacements in place.

English Championship outfit Swansea City are closing in on a deal for Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah.

But with Celtic yet to replace Kyogo Furuhashi, who left in January, Rodgers isn't keen to let another forward leave without getting a replacement in.

"There's interest in Adam but, obviously, no one can leave here unless we get players in to replace," he said.

"It's as simple as that. There's been negotiations and chatter around it, but I have to have players in here before I can consider letting anyone go.

"I just think it's logical and it's common sense. We're really light in that area of the field.

"And I'm pretty sure there would be a number of clubs that would want some of our players, but there's absolutely no way we can move anyone out unless we have absolute guarantees that there's going to be people to come in to replace."

There is also reported interest in winger Yang Hyun-jun from Birmingham City, but with Jota out injured and Nicolas Kuhn having departed for Como this summer, Rodgers isn't in a rush to lose the winger.

"It's been ongoing for Yang for a little while," he added.

"I understand that when you're a player that's probably been mostly used as a squad player over a couple of years, there comes a point in time and then you maybe want to move on and play.

"But I've been unable to do that because we've needed Yang here. I also know that if he does stay, he has a contribution to make because we need five, six wingers because of the number of games we play, the intensity that we want to play.

"But there has been interest in him. Yet again, I repeat, I can't really do anything unless we have players in."

Celtic signed Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Antwerp on Thursday and have now confirmed Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi on loan from Boca Juniors.

The club did not add the attacking reinforcements Rodgers craved before the calamitous Champions League play-off defeat to Kairat Almaty, and he has warned the board a change in transfer approach is needed.

"We need to find the solutions as to why we weren't able to strengthen before the games, when clearly we wanted to," Rodgers said.

"We need that in-depth look at that because we can't be in this cycle where we're growing for a couple of years, we get to Bayern Munich, we show great signs and then we stand still. We can't do that."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Rangers in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• With Swansea having agreed a fee with Celtic for Adam Idah, and Birmingham reportedly in for Yang Hyun-jun, Rodgers says there is "absolutely no way" players can leave unless there are "absolute guarantees" that replacements will be signed.

• Rodgers confirms Boca Juniors left-back Marcelo Saracchi is "in the building" and expects the deal to be "signed off within a matter of hours".

• Rodgers wouldn't be drawn on links to Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg but says he thinks the club will be "pretty busy and active over the coming days" and he seeks more signings "to give us that real depth".

• The Celtic boss says rumours of an internal disconnect at the club "couldn't be further from the truth" and the board of directors "bleed for this club".

• He stresses the Celtic "will invest" but says the club "need to be better" when it comes to the timing of signings.

• On new arrival Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Rodgers says the winger has "the skill to play for Celtic" and is "ready-made to play if needed" in Sunday's derby.

• While Rodgers is "bitterly disappointed" not to be in the Champions League, the club are "excited" by the Europa League draw.

• Looking ahead to Rangers, Rodgers insists "there's no greater game to come back to" after Celtic's Champions League exit.

• He is "pretty sure" Russell Martin "will do really well" as Rangers boss and is expecting a tough game at the weekend.

Image source, Getty

Celtic have learned their Europa League opponents.

Brendan Rodgers' side will face Roma, Braga, Sturm Graz and Utrecht at home, with away trips to Feyenoord, Red Star Belgrade, Midtjylland and Bologna in the league phase of the competition.

Fixture details will be confirmed by Uefa this weekend.

Having lost to Kairat Alamty in the Champions League play-off, Celtic are in the Europa League for the first time since season 2021-22.

What do you make of the draw? Can Rodgers' team at least make the play-off rounds?

Share your views here.

Image source, SNS

• Rangers are unbeaten in three league meetings with Celtic, winning two of them (D1), more than their previous 12 beforehand (W1 D3 L8).

• Celtic have only won two of their past 11 away games against Rangers across all competitions (D3 L6), winning 2-1 in April 2022 and 1-0 in September 2023.

• Celtic have won the first league Old Firm derby of a season in seven of the past nine campaigns, the only exceptions coming in 2020-21 (2-0 defeat) and 2021-22 (1-0 defeat).

• Rangers have drawn all three of their league games so far this season; on only three occasions have they ever failed to win each of their opening four matches of a league campaign, doing so in 1964-65, 1978-79, and 1983-84. On all three instances, this included a defeat to Celtic.

• Having won all three of their league games so far this season by an aggregate score of 6-0, Celtic could win their opening four matches without conceding for the fourth time, after 1906-07, 2010-11 and 2024-25.

• Rangers have drawn seven of their past nine league games (W2), including their past four in a row. Only in September 1976, May 1984, and March 2015 have the Ibrox side ever drawn five successive league fixtures, while they could go five top-flight matches in a row without a win for the first time since December 2005.

• Of Rangers managers to face Celtic in the league, only two of the past 12 have won their first league Old Firm derby in charge (D4 L6), Ally McCoist winning 4-2 in September 2011 and Barry Ferguson winning 3-2 in March last season.

• Benjamin Nygren has the most goal involvements of any player in the Scottish Premiership this season so far (four), scoring (three) or assisting (one) 67% of Celtic's league goals in 2025-26. Nygren also leads all players in the competition for chances created (12) and expected assists (1.64), and is second for both shots (10) and non-penalty expected goals (1.58).

Image source, SNS

We asked for your views after Celtic completed the signing of Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: The horse has already bolted. The board need to come out and explain why this transfer couldn't have happened well before the Kairat game.

Arthur: Yet more third-rate, middle-aged players being signed on long-term contracts. With a strike rate of six goals per season, there will be few takers for a 30-year-old winger at the end of his contract. The same applies to Adam Idah, Liam Scales, Paulo Bernardo and others.

John: Too little, too late. We knew there was a final-round qualifying tie for Champions League. Brendan Rodgers had to press the board to do business early in order to integrate new players into pre-season. Sunday's response will tell us exactly how the season will now evolve.

Andy: Hope the lad does well obviously, however the board should hang their heads in shame. Had they got their man a week earlier we might still be in Champions League. Instead we had to start with Yang Hyun-Jun and James Forrest, and while I love both these guys and they give 100% every time, they are very much impact players. So hooray for the new signing but boo to the board for killing our season.

Paddy: For me he has to start on Sunday, we need pace up both wings.

Declan: Celtic should have signed Bojan Miovski, a proven goalscorer in Scotland, for a fee less than that paid for Balikwisha. How many second-rate wingers does Brendan Rodgers need? Celtic are going nowhere fast, and paying over the odds for the privilege.

Celtic have made Anderlecht's Kasper Dolberg, 27, their number one striker target ahead of Monday's transfer deadline. (Sky Sports), external

Swansea City are closing in on the signing of Celtic striker Adam Idah, with the clubs close to agreeing a fee in the region of £7m. (Sky Sports), external

Reports in Sweden suggest Celtic have upped their offer for Hammarby winger Sebastian Tounekti to over £3m. (Daily Record), external

Image source, Getty Images

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic have confirmed the signing of Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, a move which ends months of speculation.

But what qualities does the Belgium Under-21 international bring and should Celtic fans be excited?

Well, if nothing else, Balikwisha provides another option to Brendan Rodgers' frontline.

The manager has spoken at length this summer about needing more quality - and Celtic's limitations in attack were put in sharp focus when they were stunned in the Champions League play-off by Kazakh outfit Kairat Almaty after failing to score in 210 minutes of action.

Balikwisha brings decent European experience, having scored four times and contributed five assists in 22 appearances across Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matches for Antwerp.

One of those strikes came in a 3-1 play-off win over AEK Athens in 2023, a result that earned the club a spot in the Champions League for the first time.

The 24-year-old won both league and cup in Belgium and is capable of playing across the frontline, although has primarily featured on the left flank.

That could mean a switch of wings for Daizen Maeda, or Rodgers might think Balikwisha is versatile enough to play off the right.

In the Belgian top flight, he scored 32 goals and chipped in with a further 15 assists across five seasons for Standard Liege and Antwerp - a more than decent return in a strong division.

Balikwisha could make his debut in Sunday's Old Firm derby and is relishing the prospect.

"I need to be ready because it's the most important game for the fans and for the club," he said.

"If I play in the game, I will give my best to help the team win."

What do you make of Celtic's latest signing? Have your say.

I've never looked for a manager or board to take the blame. You always look at yourself. The Celtic team have to take most of the blame for the Champions League failure because they are the ones playing.

I've played in so many bad games and suffered plenty of defeats and you always look at yourself in the mirror. Did you do enough?

Brendan Rodgers doesn't play the game. All he can do is try and pick the best team. But the players have got to deliver, especially in the big games.

The best remedy for the European disappointment is to win the derby at Ibrox on Sunday - but the criticism that has come Celtic's away after the exit to Kairat Almaty will increase tenfold if they lose to Rangers.

Even though Rangers are having a hard time, the result can go any way. Celtic have to get the Kairat game out of their system.

Despite his clear unhappiness over transfers, I'm convinced Rodgers will see out his contract and stay at Celtic for this season. If he goes after three years, then he's done remarkably well at Celtic. I don't think anybody can say otherwise.

I still think Celtic are the best team in Scotland. Europe is different kettle of fish. I was fortunate enough to play in the two European finals, so I know what it takes to play that level.

I don't think the squad is strong enough to reach the Champions League consistently.

Celtic need a strong Rangers and vice versa, that pushes them. I definitely think you need your closest rival to be strong.

At the minute, Celtic don't have that, and they can win the league while not at 100%. But to get to the level of Champions League football or to make a mark in it, you have to hit the level every single week.

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Like many Celtic fans, Stiliyan Petrov says he is still unable to watch the 2003 Uefa Cup final loss to Porto as it is too painful.

The Bulgarian started in Seville against Jose Mourinho's Porto and was substituted in the first half of extra time with the game still poised at 2-2.

A late winner from Derlei broke Celtic hearts and Petrov still finds it difficult to reflect on the game.

"We were so close," he told BBC Scotland's Sacked in the Morning podcast.

"We just couldn't get it over the line. I have never watched that game back, never watched it, never watched it."

Celtic drew level twice on the night through Henrik Larsson goals, after Porto went ahead through Derlei just before the interval and again thanks to Dmitri Alenichev in the second half.

Midfielder Petrov won four league titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups with Celtic, as well as the club's player of the year award in 2004-05, but admits their loss in Seville still feels worse than any other final defeat.

"I don't think I'll ever watch it," he added.

"It was really, really painful, but we always accept it when we lose and when you try to challenge for top titles and cups and medals, you have disappointments.

"But this was really hard to take and while it's still painful, it's part of life."

Listen to the full episode of Sacked in the Morning with Stiliyan Petrov

Image source, SNS

Swansea City are keen on signing Adam Idah, with Celtic willing to sell or loan the Irish striker if they sign a replacement. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic have had an opening bid of £2.6m rejected for Hammarby winger Sebastian Tounekti, with the Swedish club holding out for at least £4.3m. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen have agreed a six-figure fee for Celtic left-back Mitchell Frame. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

It's extraordinary to think that as recently as mid-February, Celtic were punching above their weight against Bayern Munich in the knockout phase of the Champions League.

The drop-off in form since has been remarkable, reaching it's nadir thousands of miles away in Kazakhstan. Unable to score a goal against Kairat Almaty in 210 minutes. Unable even to convert 50% of their penalties.

How on earth did it come to this for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic?

Let's start with 18 February at the Allianz Arena. Celtic lined up with Kasper Schmeichel in goal; a back four of Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jeffrey Schlupp; Callum McGregor, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate formed the midfield behind a front three of Jota, goalscorer Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda.

The only players no longer at the club are Schlupp and Kuhn, with the former replaced by an upgrade in Kieran Tierney. Admittedly, the injured Johnston and Jota are sorely, significantly missed.

Benjamin Nygren, however, has been recruited and the Sweden international has scored three goals in six games so far, a more than tidy return.

Which makes the humiliation against Kairat all the more difficult to fathom. How did a team still comprising Schmeichel, Carter-Vickers, McGregor, Hatate, Maeda and Engels (albeit from the bench) manage to look such a pale imitation of itself?

The warning signs have been there for months. After defeat in Munich, Celtic also lost to Hibs, Rangers and St Johnstone in fairly short order before scraping a draw with St Mirren on trophy day.

There then followed the dreadfully flat Scottish Cup final display against Aberdeen. Celtic's performance arc was plummeting, camouflaged by yet another 'double'.

At some point Celtic were always going to dip. Maintaining such high performance levels is finite for most teams and athletes. You build, you peak, you have a natural drop-off.

And yet the decline in this Celtic side is more than that, and for some quite obvious reasons. As the manager has been at pains to point out, the departing quality has not been replaced, like for like.

Kyogo Furuhashi left in January and it's a matter of some puzzlement the Japan striker still hasn't been adequately replaced. Kuhn was recently sold for £15m.

As well as the team's collective drop-off, what are we to make of the decline or burn-out of certain individuals? Maeda is unrecognisable from last season's player of the year.

Engels, recruited at a club record cost of £11m, can't even get into the starting XI. The much-maligned Adam Idah, almost as expensive, still contributed 20 goals last season, but on his current trajectory he'll do well to get half that this term.

Certain key Celtic players are way off their best level. Is that why the powerbrokers are so reluctant to dip into their reserves? Do they feel the £26m for Idah, Engels and Trusty was money badly spent and that their fingers might have been burned again if they recruited swiftly and significantly?

Surely the scorch marks are even worse now – their failure to give the manager the players he was asking for has left a £20m hole in the budget amid a perfect storm of underinvestment, underperformance and an underestimation of what it takes to maintain consistent European respectability.

Even if Celtic want to be a respectable Europa League side, they'll have to recruit well, spend well and find a way to get a smile back on the faces of certain players.

If they don't, the Kairat calamity may not be the season's low point.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Despite featuring in the Champions League in the past three seasons, Tuesday's miserable penalty shootout defeat to Kairat marked Celtic's fifth straight failure in qualifying for the tournament.

In Brendan Rodgers' first spell as manager, he guided the team to the top table of club football via the qualifiers in back-to-back campaigns, but a 3-2 aggregate defeat to AEK Athens in 2018 started a wretched run.

The following year, under Neil Lennon, the Glasgow side fell at the third-round stage after a bonkers 4-3 second-leg loss at home to Cluj of Romania.

In 2020, Celtic failed at the round prior when Lennon's men lost a one-legged tie 2-1 at home to Hungarian champions Ferencvaros.

It was a similar story the next campaign when Midtjylland got the better of Celtic in the infancy of Ange Postecoglou's reign. A 1-1 first-leg draw came before a 2-1 extra-time defeat in Denmark.

In the following three campaigns, the Parkhead side benefitted from Scotland's boosted coefficient ranking, meaning they automatically entered Uefa's elite club competition for winning the Scottish Premiership.

But damage to the nation's coefficient meant Celtic were dropped into qualifying at the play-off round this term - and shootout agony in Kazakhstan after an abject second-leg display stretched the Scottish champions' grim record in qualifying.

Captain Callum McGregor says Celtic did not deserve to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League and that the squad "need help" in the form of new signings before the transfer window closes.

Celtic lost a penalty shootout away to Kairat Almaty after the two-legged tie ended 0-0 as Brendan Rodgers' side failed to score a goal in 210 minutes against the Kazakhstan club.

The Scottish champions have missed out on £20m in revenue and will now go into the Europa League.

"We are very low, it's really disappointing. We probably didn't create enough to get there and there were a few moments where you think it is not going to be our night," the former Scotland midfielder said.

"We didn't do enough to deserve to qualify. The players are probably the most frustrated out of everyone."

Celtic's summer recruitment has been criticised for leaving the squad lacking depth and quality before the crucial tie - and manager Brendan Rodgers has added to questions over the lack of new arrivals.

Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Boca Juniors left-back Marcelo Saracchi look poised to arrive this week - and McGregor says they are required.

"We need help, we need players, we need a stronger squad if we want to compete on all fronts. We need bodies in the door and hopefully the club can do it," he said.

"It's a sore one for the club in terms of finances. But no-one has got a God-given right to be in the tournament."

McGregor paid tribute to Kairat, who progressed to the league phase of Europe's top club competition despite having fewer resources.

"We have to credit them. They worked hard and made it ugly. Football's not easy. It's competitive," added McGregor, who believes Sunday's Old Firm game is the ideal way to attempt to get over the Kairat exit.

"They were well drilled and organised and carried a bit of luck and we have to accept that. Little moments went against, things didn't fall for us.

"But the Europa league can still be a good platform. It's not the Champions League, which gives the place a buzz and is the highest level of competition.

"But we have to reset and do well in that; we don't want it to snowball into one bad game that becomes two or three. Then you're really up against it.

"We have a huge game on Sunday and we have to stick together. There is a little bit of added pressure with this game but can we park this and go there and get a result."

Image source, SNS

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady on BBC Sportsound

Celtic have got more than enough quality to be beating Kairat. The first leg was very lethargic and slow. There was a real lack of quality and intensity. It's a Champions League qualifier.

I remember being on the end of a 5-0 defeat by Artmedia Bratislava, which was unforgivable, but the return leg we won 4-0.

I thought we would see a massive difference between the two performances and both were very similar.

Former Celtic midfielder John Collins on BBC Sportsound

The biggest disappointment for everyone associated with Celtic is they have been knocked out by a very, very average team. That's not a Champions League team.

In the final third there's been a lack of creativity, no penetration. The reality is, they have lost Kyogo, Kuhn's gone, Jota is injured, you've lost pace, you've lost sharpness at the top end of the pitch.

The board are going to take the flak now because they should have had players in before this game. They took the gamble that they would have enough to get through this game and bring players in after. Unfortunately it has backfired.

Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill on Amazon Prime

It's their own fault. They are out of a competition they should really be in.

They just have not done enough over the two games. They've had little moments. Daizen Maeda had a moment and he should score the goal.

But there was never a sustained spell of six or seven minutes when they put the opposition under pressure when you felt they were going to capitulate.

Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov on Amazon Prime

I think they're short probably four or five classy players with good quality.

Celtic has always paid attention to developing players, giving them time, but they have those players. Now they need quality. They need players who can make a difference.

A club like Celtic cannot be satisfied with the Europa League. The manager needs backing and needs players. If you want to be successful, you have to spend.

Football writer Stephen McGowan on BBC's Scottish football podcast

In the cold light of day, this Celtic team is a Europa League team. I don't think they would have done themselves a great deal of justice in the Champions League, so every cloud has a silver lining.

But I think there are huge questions that need to be asked now about Celtic's football operation.

People were saying widely before the game that they hadn't done enough to bring in quality additions - and that's been backed up by what we saw last night when Yang and a 34-year-old James Forrest were starting wide men.