Martin O’Neill addresses two named Celtic transfer targets as hint given over deal progress
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has hinted that progress is being made in the club’s search for a new winger, directly addressing links to two reported transfer targets.
The Hoops have been strongly linked with Hungarian winger Damir Redzic of DAC Dunajská Streda and Farès Ghedjemis, the French wide player currently with Serie B side Frosinone. With the January transfer window closing on Monday night, O’Neill is hopeful reinforcements will arrive in time to bolster his options.
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s upcoming fixtures, O’Neill was asked specifically about Redzic and Ghedjemis and did little to play down the speculation.
“I’ve got to tell you, you wouldn’t be a million miles away,” he said. When pressed on whether it would be one or the other, O’Neill added: “It could be.”
Redzic, 24, is also attracting interest from Austrian giants RB Salzburg, while 23-year-old Ghedjemis is believed to be valued at around £6 million.
O’Neill stressed the importance of strengthening the squad before the deadline, particularly with Celtic’s fixture list set to expand following European qualification.
“We know that we need to supplement the squad,” he said. “We need a wee bit of quality as well to help, particularly with the extra games now.
“I’m sure it would be a delight for our opposition at a domestic level, but we’ll go with it. Just for us to qualify and get another European night at Celtic Park, I don’t think it will do us any harm if we get the players in — which I’m hoping that we will do.
“We are definitely making progress. There’s no question about that.”
Celtic’s desire to strengthen in wide areas has grown following Thursday night’s 4–2 victory over FC Utrecht, a result that secured a place in the Europa League play-off phase. The Hoops now face at least two more European matches and will discover on Friday whether they will be drawn against Ferencváros or VfB Stuttgart.
O’Neill also praised his side’s display against the Dutch outfit, describing large spells of the performance as “terrific”, and singled out Auston Trusty for his decisive fourth goal.
“Performance-wise, I thought for most parts it was really terrific,” O’Neill said. “Our pressing was excellent and it got us a couple of goals in front.
“They get a goal back and it unnerves you a little bit. When they got the second, you start to get concerned because I thought we were flagging slightly.
“But Trusty comes up with a great header and we deserved to win the game. Overall, I was delighted with the performance.”