Celtic have reportedly placed Royal Antwerp’s winger Michel‑Ange Balikwisha at the top of their shortlist to bolster wide options following Nicolas Kühn’s departure.

The Belgian winger has caught the eye with his pace and direct play during his spell with Antwerp, and the Hoops are said to be keen to bring him to Glasgow ahead of the new season.

Marc Overmars has made it known that Antwerp won’t entertain any cut-price deals for Michel-Ange Balikwisha. With the winger tied down until 2026, the club are standing firm on their valuation.

However, according to Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, there’s a push behind the scenes to move the player on this summer, with Antwerp eager to cash in before his contract situation weakens their hand.

At 24, Balikwisha offers pace, flair and a direct approach from wide areas. He’s comfortable driving at defenders, creating space and chipping in with goals and assists. Those attributes align well with what Brendan Rodgers is looking to add to his attacking options following Kühn’s departure.

Balikwisha’s versatility, with the ability to drift inside or operate from either wing, could bring added variety to Celtic’s forward play heading into the new campaign.

Antwerp’s financial urgency gives Celtic a potential leverage point in negotiations. With the player entering the final year of his deal, Antwerp must weigh up the risk of losing him for little or nothing in 2026. That scenario could push them towards a compromise fee. From Celtic’s perspective, a deal struck now could avoid a bidding war and fit within the summer budget.

It seems likely that Celtic will submit another bid based on their own valuation, hoping Antwerp accept to avoid losing Balikwisha for free. Talks surrounding personal terms and playing time will follow, the winger must be convinced he’ll feature regularly and continue his development in Glasgow.

Should agreement be reached, Balikwisha would arrive ready to make an immediate impact, slotting into the wide‑man rotation and competing with the current frontline.

Celtic are firmly in the hunt for a fresh wide‑man and Balikwisha ticks many boxes. With Antwerp keen to offload before 2026 and Overmars holding firm on price, negotiations could heat up soon. Celtic supporters will be watching closely, this could be the first real move of what promises to be a lively summer transfer window.