Royal Antwerp sporting director Marc Overmars has not held back when it comes to potential summer departures, admitting that players approaching the final year of their deals are now on the market, including Celtic target Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

The 24-year-old winger has been linked strongly with a move to the Hoops after skipping the opening day of Antwerp’s pre-season training camp in Austria. While head coach Stef Wils tried to downplay the situation, Overmars’s comments have added fuel to the fire.

Overmars didn’t name Celtic directly, but his message was clear: clubs interested in Balikwisha need to come to the table with a serious offer. And while he acknowledged bids have come in, none have met the club’s expectations so far.

His comments hinted at frustration with the level of interest shown to date, with suggestions that potential suitors, Celtic among them, haven’t moved quickly or boldly enough to get a deal over the line.

He said: (GVA), “Things like that (outgoing transfers) can happen in a day. I don’t want to beat around the bush: many clubs are ready to make a move.

“There were some bids but they were not serious enough. We’ll see if anything attractive comes along in the near future.”

Balikwisha fits the mould of what Celtic are looking for in this window. A wing with pace and creativity, he offers a direct threat and can slot into Brendan Rodgers’s system without much adjustment. At 24, he has the right balance of experience and room to grow, making him a strong candidate for both immediate impact and long-term value.

Celtic’s sale of Nicolas Kuhn shows the success of buying smart and selling well. Balikwisha could represent the next move in that model, if the price is right. But Marc Overmars’s comments make it clear that Antwerp won’t be rushed or lowballed into a deal. They want proper bids on the table before talks can advance.

There is interest in Balikwisha from other clubs, and Antwerp’s stance suggests they’re bracing for more movement as the window progresses. For Celtic, that means acting fast if they want to avoid being drawn into a bidding war or missing out altogether.

With the Champions League qualifiers looming and the squad still needing reinforcements, this is a test of how decisively Celtic are willing to act. The path has been opened by Antwerp, now it’s down to the Hoops hierarchy to follow through.