There are a number of positions where Celtic will be looking to improve this summer. One of them has to be their options on the flanks.
The current situation on the wings has left supporters and the coaching staff with clear concerns heading into the new campaign. Depth and quality in wide areas remain among the most pressing issues for a side that expects to compete on multiple fronts domestically and in Europe.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha has not even met minimum expectations since joining the club. On the other hand, Sebastian Tounekti looked like one of the weak links in the team towards the end of last season, even though he held on to his starting spot. Jota is elite on his day. But he has spent more than a year out injured. It is unclear when he will be back in action or how he will look at that point. These combined factors have created a genuine need for reinforcement if Celtic are to maintain the standards supporters have come to expect.
So, it is very easy to see why Celtic will be looking to sign a winger. And Martin O’Neill has confirmed their interest in one, although it is not the player most would have expected after the last few weeks. The revelation has shifted attention away from earlier links and towards a different target who has flown somewhat under the radar in recent discussions.
Martin O’Neill confirms Celtic interest in winger out of nowhere
For a long time, it had looked like Celtic were focusing on a move for Haissem Hassan, following his excellent World Cup campaign with Egypt and particularly a breakout performance against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The Egyptian international’s displays on the biggest stage raised his profile significantly and made him an attractive option for clubs seeking attacking width and pace.
But it has looked like Real Oviedo are keen to see their €12 million release clause be triggered, and it might have led to a change of plans from Celtic. The financial demands surrounding Hassan appear to have prompted a reassessment of priorities, opening the door for alternative targets who offer a more compelling balance of cost and output.
Martin O’Neill has confirmed Celtic’s interest in signing Fares Ghedjemis. According to The Celtic Way, the manager said: “We have a very, very strong interest in him. I don’t know how close we can get, but we are genuinely making really good progress.” Those comments mark a clear public acknowledgement that the club is actively pursuing the player and that discussions have advanced beyond the exploratory stage.
At the end of the day, it would be a risk to pay around £10 million to sign Hassan. Yes, he had a solid World Cup and his underlying numbers in La Liga are very good as well. But Hassan is a winger who did not score a single goal last season though. And if you want to be a starter for Celtic, that is non-negotiable. You need to be producing the numbers. Goal contributions remain a fundamental requirement for any wide player expected to feature regularly in a side that prioritises attacking football.
That is something that Ghedjemis has been excellent at. For Frosinone last season, he scored 15 goals and provided three assists in 37 games in Italian Serie B. Those figures stand out in a competitive second-tier environment and demonstrate a consistent ability to find the net while also contributing to build-up play. The volume of appearances further underlines his reliability and fitness over a full campaign.
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Some of the underlying numbers are staggering. In Serie B, Ghedjemis was the top of the league for wingers in terms of goals, expected goals, xG on target, shots, shots on target, touches in the opposition box and successful dribbles. Dominating so many key attacking metrics simultaneously is rare and paints a picture of a player who is both highly involved and highly effective in the final third.
The creative side of his game is better than those three assists suggest as well. In fact, he had 5.78 expected assists, which put him in the 97th percentile. Ghedjemis was also in the 97th percentile for chances created and big chances created, and the 96th percentile for successful passes and touches. These rankings highlight a well-rounded profile that goes beyond pure goal-scoring. He creates opportunities for teammates at an elite rate relative to his peers while maintaining high involvement across the pitch.
Celtic’s interest therefore makes clear sense when viewed against the backdrop of their current wide options and the statistical evidence of what Ghedjemis delivers. A player capable of leading the league in multiple attacking categories offers the kind of productivity that can immediately strengthen a squad. The fact that progress is being made, according to the manager, suggests the club sees a realistic pathway to completing a deal that could address one of their most obvious areas of need this summer.
Whether the move materialises remains to be seen, but the public confirmation from Martin O’Neill has at least clarified the direction of travel. Supporters will now watch developments closely as Celtic look to add quality and output to their flank positions before the transfer window closes.