Antwerp manager Stef Wils has confirmed that winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, long linked with Celtic, could be on the move in the near future.

The Belgian club have faced continued speculation over the 24-year‑old’s future, with interest from Glasgow persisting through several transfer windows. Reports suggest there is a significant chance the move will finally materialise this summer.

Brendan Rodgers has made strengthening out wide a top priority, particularly since the £17 million sale of Nicolas Kuhn to Como. With Balikwisha capable of playing on either wing, he has become a major target for Celtic in their search for attacking width and creativity.

Reports have indicated that Balikwisha is keen on a switch to Celtic Park. Conversations between the clubs have reportedly progressed, amid growing confidence that all parties could reach an agreement. Antwerp’s need for transfer revenue and the player’s contract expiring next summer, when he would be available on a free transfer, have only heightened the likelihood of a deal this summer.

Now, Wils has added credibility to the rumours, suggesting that Balikwisha’s exit is far from unlikely. The manager confirmed that while he remains focused on his current squad, he is prepared to let the player depart if the right offer arrives.

He said: (Nieuwblad), “I’m just working with the guys who are here at the moment. They all have the qualities to play here, so it would be foolish not to use them.

“That’s possible, yes.”

Balikwisha joining Celtic would add much-needed pace and quality to the team’s attack. He’s quick, skilful and can deliver from wide areas, traits that fit well with how Brendan Rodgers wants his side to play. With Kuhn now gone, bringing in someone like Balikwisha has become even more important.

Celtic’s long-term interest in the winger shows they’ve been tracking his abilities for a while. The fact that he’s open to the move, along with Antwerp’s need to sell, makes this deal more likely to happen before the window shuts.

Antwerp are now in a position where they have to weigh up the short-term loss on the pitch against the benefits of a transfer fee. Losing Balikwisha won’t be ideal for them, but Wils seems happy to go with the players still at his disposal. His words suggest he’s already planning for that possible outcome.

For Celtic fans, the chance of finally landing Balikwisha is something to get behind. If all goes well in the coming days, Rodgers could get his man and start shaping the side more in his image before the season gets into full swing.