CELTIC CONFIDENTIAL: The £5m winger on Brendan Rodgers' radar ahead of January... and the next academy star who has the club staving off suitors in England and beyond
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By all accounts, Michel-Ange Balikwisha knows a thing or two about timing his runs to perfection. With the transfer window set to open in a couple of weeks, the Antwerp player may also have timed his comeback from injury to perfection amid ongoing interest from Celtic.
![[Antwerp's impressive Michel-Ange Balikwisha, above left, would tick a lot of boxes for Celtic]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/93235525-0-image-a-3_1734446204263.jpg)
The 23-year-old, whose preferred position is on the left wing, was high on Brendan Rodgers’ wish list last summer until a serious muscle injury sidelined him for several months. ‘Two clubs (Celtic and Rennes) kept negotiating to possibly still bring him in,’ Antwerp CEO Sven Jaecques recently confirmed.
![[Balikwisha has just returned from injury and is primed for a £5m move over next few weeks]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/93235499-0-image-a-4_1734446283591.jpg)
‘But, in the meantime, we know that such clubs will rather focus on January anyway. 'He must now return as soon and as fit as possible and then we will see what happens.'. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will be looking for new recruits in the January transfer window.
![[Stephen Welsh has dropped out of Rodgers' plans and looks set to move elsewhere]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/93235561-0-image-a-5_1734446361294.jpg)
Antwerp's impressive Michel-Ange Balikwisha, above left, would tick a lot of boxes for Celtic. Balikwisha has just returned from injury and is primed for a £5m move over next few weeks. That return happened last week against Charleroi. The former Belgian Under-21 international showed no ill-effects and he appears to be back in the shop window.
![[Luis Palma also seems to be heading for exit door after failing to establish himself]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/93235665-0-image-a-6_1734446427515.jpg)
With a price tag of £5million on his back and his contract expiring in 2026, Antwerp will be keen to do business again. Balikwisha ticks every box from Celtic’s perspective. Frozen-out defender opens talks about his long-term prospects. Celtic defender Stephen Welsh is set to go out in search of first-team football in the January window.
![[Forgotten man Maik Nawrocki is considering his options at the Parkhead club, too]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/93235567-0-image-m-8_1734446473763.jpg)
