Celtic’s pursuit of Michel-Ange Balikwishahas stalled as financial demands from Royal Antwerp are proving to be a stumbling block for the cash-rich Scottish Premiership champions.
The club’s interest in the talented attacker has been public for a while, but the negotiation process has hit a snag due to the high transfer fee requested by Antwerp.
☘️ #CelticFC attracted by Royal #Antwerp FC’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha ! 🇧🇪
🏴 The Scottish club entered into discussions with player’s entourage to explore the possibility of a deal this summer as there’s a confirmed interest for Balikwisha’s profile.
🔴⚪️ Clubs should have a… pic.twitter.com/piSSq7NA3O
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) July 15, 2024
His current manager has said that losing such a player would be a significant loss for the team, which may be influencing Antwerp’s firm stance on their valuation.
It was revealed that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has personally spoken with Balikwisha, indicating a strong interest in securing the player’s services.
Rodgers’ direct involvement shows his appreciation for Balikwisha’s abilities and his desire to bring him to Celtic. And yet, the club don’t appear to be backing the gaffer here.
If he’s a player Rodgers wants, the club should be doing all that they can to bring him to Glasgow. It’s extremely frustrating that we find ourselves in this position, but it just sums up the transfer window so far.
