Celtic are enjoying one of their most successful January transfer windows in recent memory, and the excitement continues to build.
The reigning Scottish champions secured a historic 1-0 victory over BSC Young Boys last week, booking their place in the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013.
With the transfer window set to close on February 3, fans are eagerly anticipating the potential deals that could be finalized in the coming days.
One familiar face has already returned to Parkhead, with another reportedly on the way, while Brendan Rodgers is actively searching for a striker to fill the void left by Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure.
The Japanese forward’s move to Rennes has been a tough pill to swallow for many Celtic supporters, given his prolific goal-scoring record and knack for delivering in crucial matches. However, the return of fan favorite Jota has softened the blow.
The Portuguese winger left Glasgow in the summer of 2022 to join Saudi side Al-Ittihad for a staggering £25million.
Unfortunately, his time away from Celtic has been plagued by challenges, managing just four goals and one assist in 25 appearances for the Saudi club before seeking a fresh start in France.
Jota joined Ligue 1 club Rennes last summer for £6.7m (€8m), contributing one goal and one assist in 10 games. On Monday (January 27), it was announced that the 25-year-old had returned to Celtic, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal worth £8m.
But the transfer activity at Celtic Park doesn’t appear to be over yet. With time ticking down, Record Sport explores what the ideal end to the window could look like for Rodgers.
Kieran Tierney returns sooner
Another exciting development is the potential return of academy graduate and club legend Kieran Tierney. The Scottish defender left his boyhood club in 2019 for a then-record £25m fee, but his time at Arsenal has been hampered by injuries.
Rumors have been swirling since the start of the window that Tierney could make a sensational return to Celtic, with his Arsenal contract set to expire this summer.
Reports suggest the versatile defender has already signed a pre-contract agreement to rejoin the club in the summer, with The Telegraph noting that the 27-year-old turned down offers from other Premier League sides and overseas teams to return home.
However, the timing of his Arsenal exit depends on the future of fellow left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Ukrainian is reportedly attracting interest from Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, with a potential £30m move on the cards.
If Zinchenko departs, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would be left with only Tierney and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly for the title run-in, potentially complicating Tierney’s early exit.
This has given Celtic fans hope that Tierney could join on loan in January before completing a free transfer in the summer.
Evan Ferguson joins on loan
Celtic are also reportedly monitoring Brighton’s highly-rated striker Evan Ferguson. According to TBR Football, the Hoops are among several clubs in the Premier League, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga showing interest in the Irish forward.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has hinted that Ferguson could be allowed to leave on loan, stating: “Let’s see what happens in the end. In the offensive line, there’s still some players not at the highest level, some players suffering with small issues. Evan is also not fit yet so we still have some days til the window is closed. Until then, we still have to figure out what is the situation at the moment, what we need for the rest of the season, and what the players want. Then it’s about making the decision together.”
Mathias Kvistgaarden to join this window
Rodgers’ primary focus remains securing a new striker following Kyogo’s departure. Record Sport understands that Celtic are keen on signing Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brondby, but the Danish club is holding out for a fee of at least £13m.
The 21-year-old forward has been in impressive form this season, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists in the Superliga. While the price tag may delay a permanent move until the summer, a loan deal for Ferguson could serve as a perfect short-term solution.
Clearout completed
Celtic have also been busy offloading players who are not part of Rodgers’ immediate plans.
Scottish defender Stephen Welsh joined Belgian side KV Mechelen on loan until the end of the season, while Argentinian left-back Alexandro Bernabei completed a permanent move to Brazilian club Internacional for £4.5m.
Midfielder Odin Thiago Holm has also departed, joining MLS side Los Angeles FC on a season-long loan.
Rodgers is reportedly looking to move more players on, with winger Luis Palma among those potentially leaving this month.
The Honduran has struggled to cement a starting role this season, despite a decent debut campaign in 2023/24, scoring six goals and providing nine assists in 24 games.
Palma’s father, Enrique, has hinted at a possible move, telling Diario Diez in October: “He will be at Celtic right now and focus on the rest of the year and maybe there will be a sale, but what happens to him will depend on his work.”
Bonus attacker addition
If the potential arrivals of Jota, Tierney, and Ferguson aren’t enough to excite Celtic fans, Rodgers may have more surprises in store.
Record Sport previously revealed that the Hoops manager is considering a seven-figure bid for Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, though the 21-year-old now appears closer to a loan move to Hull City.
Another option could be BK Hacken striker Zeidane Inoussa, who has been in fine form this season with six goals and three assists in Sweden. The 22-year-old has expressed his desire to play abroad, telling Fotbollskanalen:
“We’ll see what happens. If we both feel it’s extremely good for both parties, then why not. But if it’s not good for either of us, it probably won’t happen. We’ve talked about it a bit. A good league. A club that is ambitious. A club that has a very good plan for me, that sees me as an important player in their project where I can contribute a lot. I think most players in the Allsvenskan are keen to go abroad.
“It’s probably almost everyone’s dream, and mine too. I’m open to a move if it suits both me and Häcken. My dream is to play in a top five league, like the Premier League, of course. It might be difficult to get there if you’ve been in the Allsvenskan for 10 years. At some point you have to move. But we’ll see if it happens now, this summer or next winter. It’s hard to say.”
With European football still on the agenda, Celtic are in a strong negotiating position, and one more signing could cap off what has already been an exceptional transfer window.
