(Credit: Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Fri 22 August 2025 20:03, UK

Celtic have stepped up their talks for Michel-Ange Balikwisha with Royal Antwerp open to selling him for “the right price”, sources have told Football Insider.

Sources: Jamie Vardy to Celtic transfer latest	Sources: Tottenham set sights on signing 23-year-old after Savinho blow	Sources: Tottenham 28-yr-old next in line to open contract talks

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about Celtic‘s pursuit of the Belgium Under-21s forward.

Balikwisha is a long-term target for the Hoops and his signing would allow Daizen Maeda to make a full-time move into a central attacking position, as Antwerp continue to drive a hard bargain for the winger.

Football Insider revealed on 15 August that Balikwisha wants to make the move to Celtic after Brendan Rodgers‘ side first declared their interest in him 12 months ago, and talks are now set to accelerate.

Sources have told Football Insider that with Balikwisha into the last 12 months of his contract at Royal Antwerp and talks ongoing with Celtic, the Belgian club are open to selling the 24-year-old this summer.

Daizen Maeda has been used as a makeshift striker for Celtic in recent times (Credit: Imago)

Football Insider revealed on 17 August that Celtic had prioritised Go Ahead Eagles’ Jakob Breum over Balikwisha in their hunt for a new winger, but those prioritised have now changed in the Belgian’s favour.

Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke stated that Celtic’s bid for Balikwisha will succeed if Rodgers’ side qualify for the Champions League, ahead of their qualifying second-leg against Kairat.

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES

“They’re still pursuing a deal for Michel-Ange Balikwisha”, he told Football Insider.

“He’s been a long-term target, and talks are ongoing between Celtic and Antwerp to see if they can get a deal over the line.

“Balikwisha is into the last 12 months of his contract, and the Belgian club – though they’re driving a hard bargain at the minute – would be open to selling him for the right price.

“A lot will depend on Celtic’s participation in the league stages of the Champions League.”

Celtic want to sign either Balikwisha or Go Ahead Eagles winger Jakob Breum (Credit: Imago)

Although Balikwisha’s potential arrival at Parkhead would mean a full-time move into the middle for Maeda this season, even the prolific Japanese international can’t mask Celtic’s clear need for a striker.

Football Insider has revealed that Celtic’s talks with Jamie Vardy are not at an advanced stage as had been previously reported, and this only highlights the Hoops’ failure to strengthen properly up front.

Targets like Vardy, Balikwisha and Feyenoord’s Calvin Stengs would certainly grab the headlines, but it’s little surprise to see Rodgers’ growing frustrations with Celtic’s lack of true cut-through in the final third.

Related Posts


For more news relating to Celtic, visit our sister site Celtic Latest Live.