Michel-Ange Balikwisha

If signed as a squad player - fair enough. Good cover for a year or two then sell for profit.
But my worry is that he will be the first XI signing and we don't go in for anything better as Kuhn replacement.

 

Supremely "meh".

 

He's not being brought in as the Kuhn replacement, he plays on the left.

 

He plays in the opposite wing, Nygren plays Kuhn's position (RW) left footed cutting in , in a very similar way .

 

Fair, but same logic applies on left with Maeda - assuming Daizen moves into middle (or leaves ).
This guy is not an upgrade on either Maeda or Kuhn.

 

It would near impossible for us to buy an upgrade on either at their best. We could definitely find someone a bit more consistent than Kuhn, but to get better than either would require funds we dont have.

Orjasaeter, as good as he looks, wouldn't be better than Kuhn or Maeda either.

 

Only two more twitter links needed for a welcome thread.

 

I respectfully disagree.
We should always be looking to get better, if we don't are we saying that last season is as good as it gets?

I like Maeda but there are very clearly gaps in his capability that can be improved as both winger and striker - but it's not Balikwisha (imo) but it certainly could be Jota post Jan. KT and Jota I'm very excited about.
Hopefully Balikwisha is a Jota backstop and Yang/Palma squad upgrade - that makes more sense.

Kuhn on form is truly excellent but again consistency and attitude an issue - so either he improves himself or more likely he goes - much more optimistic about Nygren than Balikwisha, although he might be more Rogic than Kuhn.

We've not had a truly outstanding striker since peak Kyogo, but even then we've had much better. So who's better or more realistically, has the potential to be better.

Then theres the midfield - the biggest issue and opportunity to improve of all.
Desperately in need of a natural #6 and more personality/positivity overall to better enable the front 3.
Again, a great #6 could also improve Engels, enables Calmac to be pushed up to #8. Who replaces Hattate and Calmac long term?
It's a big season for midfield - if Engels doesn't step up this season or a decent offer comes in - we should sell him.

Continuos improvement is what's needed and what Brendan talks about constantly.
Hopefully the club will support that ambition

 

I think it's hard to upgrade but you never know. Sometimes players can come in cheap and tear it up. Nygren will do that in sure.

I also think you may be able to lose your best player but if you invest the money to receive right you are a better team as a whole.

 

Some difference the feeling around this from when he was first linked

 

He won't get many touches of the ball otherwise

 

Sounds like our interst in this one has ended. Club manager now saying he is likely to stay with them they will "make it work" to keep him

 

Not fussed on missing this one, plenty better options out there in the same price bracket without the injury troubles.

 

Aye got to say a think we have dodged a bullet here, seemed too much like palma for me.

 

Their new manager saying he wants to keep him doesn't mean our interest has ended

 

Antwerp boss Stef Wils has vowed to keep a hold of Celtic transfer target Michel-Ange Balikwisha.


The winger has been on the agenda for the Hoops since January when he was a key transfer target and is believed to still be on Brendan Rodgers' wishlist. That could intensify further if Nicolas Kuhn is sold, with Como and RB Leipzig making attempts to land him.

Reports in Belgium had suggested Antwerp were willing to lower their asking price for the 24-year-old to £4.6 million as they are in need of the funds.

But new manager Wils has appeared to suggest he is keen to keep the player as part of his squad.

He told Belgian media: “Of course I want to keep him. I also think that it can work


CEO Sven Jaecques previously admitted they did need funds but would not be sanctioning an exodus.

He told HLN: "Marc (Overmars, director of football) and the scouting are working very hard to put together a competitive core.

"It is a fact that the departures are needed and has an impact on the group. We have to deal with that. This is an opportunity for other guys to stand up.

“But we are not going to allow an exodus

 

Hopefully it has, not impressed at all looks like another palma for me.

 

That just tells me that they won't let their whole team leave but they need money so some will have to. He may be one of them.