Celtic always seem to be linked with a whole host of players in each summer transfer window and this year has been no different.

News of the possible signing of Swedish centre half Gustaf Lagerbielke [Expressen] came as no surprise amid Carl Starfelt’s likely departure although the Hoops being named as potential suitors for Michail Antonio was rather bizarre. [Football Transfers]

The Jamaican striker plays his football for West Ham having registered 118 goal contributions in 276 appearances for the club. He indeed turned out for the Hammers against the Scottish champions in 2021 and bagged a brace at Parkhead. After the match, he spoke to the media and was full of praise for Celtic.

He said (West Ham TV via Glasgow Live): “To be fair, Celtic are a quality team and they’ve shown today they play good football”

The Hoops have a respectable reputation throughout football and if Celtic are mentioned to Antonio as an option, he could well be tempted.

At the time, he was also heavily complimentary of the Hoops’ faithful. He said: “Especially at the start of the game, they were making a lot of noise. I was standing a yard away from Nobes [Mark Noble] and Nobes was trying to speak to me and I couldn’t hear him, and that’s only with 18,000, so imagine if this place was full!”

Antonio was not the first opposition player to praise Celtic fans and the club itself when he did so.

Now linked with the treble-winning champions, the 33-year-old’s prior knowledge of the Hoops could help him make a decision – if there is anything in the links in the first place as they seem rather out of the ordinary. Even at 33, we’d assume the striker would not be looking to downgrade his wages to a point Celtic would be comfortable.