Michel-Ange Balikwisha was handed his first appearance under Martin O’Neill’s second spell in charge as Celtic eased past Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
The DR Congo international returned from AFCON duty to start in the number ten role against the semi-professional side, but struggled to influence proceedings as goals from Johnny Kenny and Sebastian Tounekti secured a 2-0 victory. Signed from Standard Liège in a deal worth up to £5 million last summer, Balikwisha has yet to justify that investment.
The 24-year-old has failed to score and has managed just two assists in 13 appearances across all competitions this season, according to Transfermarkt, with his latest outing against lower-league opposition doing little to strengthen his case.
Celtic submit bid for attacking reinforcement
Balikwisha’s lack of impact may explain why Celtic are actively pursuing an attacking upgrade. According to SportsWorldGhana, the Hoops have submitted a new bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi during the January window.
The report follows weekend claims that Celtic were in discussions with Palace over a loan deal that would include either an option or obligation to buy, with a permanent fee believed to be around £8 million. While Celtic are said to prefer an option, Palace are pushing for an obligation, which remains the main obstacle in negotiations.
It is unclear whether the latest approach will be enough to bridge that gap.
Why Rak-Sakyi would represent an upgrade
Balikwisha’s struggles in the final third have highlighted Celtic’s need for greater quality in attacking areas. Since the start of the 2024/25 season, he has registered five goals and four assists in 34 appearances for Standard Liège and Celtic combined, underlining his limited influence in decisive moments.
Rak-Sakyi, by contrast, offers a more consistent attacking threat. Since last season, the English winger has scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 47 matches for Sheffield United and Rizespor, according to Sofascore. He also found the net four times in just 11 Super Lig appearances earlier this campaign before returning to Crystal Palace.
Praised as “devastating” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Rak-Sakyi combines pace with directness and versatility. He is capable of operating on either wing, through the middle, or as a number ten, and has shown strong dribbling ability, completing an average of 1.4 successful dribbles per game during his Championship spell with Sheffield United.
That contrasts sharply with Balikwisha’s difficulties in possession, having failed to complete a single dribble in seven Scottish Premiership appearances this season.
With Celtic seeking more creativity and end product in the final third, Rak-Sakyi’s ability to beat defenders and create chances makes him an appealing target — and potentially a significant upgrade should a deal be agreed.
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