Struggling Luis Palma has been told not to give up at Celtic – as his behind the scenes antics could create a path to leave in January.
The 24-year-old has been down the pecking order at Parkhead so far this season and faced criticism from fans after his social media antics in the wake of a disappointing display – off the back of his only start this campaign against Falkirk. In the 6-0 rout of St Johnstone the following weekend, the Honduran failed to make the matchday squad and he did not make it off the bench in the Champions League mauling at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.
But reports in Honduras suggest that Palma has made it clear to Brendan Rodgers that he does not want to leave and is ready to fight to remain in Glasgow’s east end. But international teammate Andy Najar reckons his fellow countryman could change his mind.
The former Anderlecht man told Diez: “I tell him not to give up, I know what he’s experiencing is difficult. When I went to Anderlecht it was difficult for 10 months, nobody knows.
“So, I tell him not to give up, he will return to his level, when he arrived, he showed it, and these are technical decisions. Sometimes it’s difficult when you are injured, when that happens you have to work twice as hard because those who are healthy wait.
“If he’s not given the minutes, he should continue training in the same way so that they can give him the minutes or he can join another team and leave again, proving that they were wrong. So, keep fighting and here at the national team we are waiting for you.”
In terms of a replacement, Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha looks to be high on the agenda. CEO Sven Jaecques has claimed the Premiership leaders showed an interest in the wide man in the last window – and he expects the Hoops to revive their interest in January as he floated a £5m price tag for the 23-year-old.
But transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that a deal “is stuck” going into January transfer season. It is claimed that Celtic believe that Antwerp are “making too high demands” and they don’t “want to go along with the deal.”
A move for Jeremie Frimpong impact on moves in the winger window. The Netherlands international has been chased by clubs across Europe with the Scottish champions set to bank 30 per cent of any sale by Bayer Leverkusen.
Chelsea are reportedly considering lodging a £50m bid with Liverpool said to be showing interest. Real Madrid are also now reportedly weighing up a move, according to AS. Should a £50m deal be accepted by the Bundesliga giants a massive £15m would be heading to Celtic Park.
But should a winger be the priority? Former Celtic star Mark Wilson reckons there are other positions that need strengthened first in the wake of the 7-1 hammering by Borussia Dortmund.
He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that a holding midfielder should be on the shopping list: “I think I’ve said for a number of years now, Celtic have been missing that real physical presence, maybe in these European nights in there. Calum McGregor is brilliant on the ball and he’ll start moves.
“But is he that player that will break up attacks? Maybe not, but I don’t think he was helped. I don’t think it was Callum McGregor’s best game the other night. I thought he was as poor as anybody. I don’t think he was helped by Bernardo and Engels. I thought they were too easy to play through. As good as Engels has been, I thought he just got overrun.”
One man who won’t be in the midfield engine room is Liam Shaw. The Englishman made the move north back in 2021 from Sheffield Wednesday but barely played a minute of first-team football.
He spent last season on loan at Wigan and, with just a year to run on his contract, has been released. Shaw has now signed on for Charlie Adam’s Fleetwood Town.