Martin O’Neill Closing In on First Celtic Signing as Ta Bi Heads for Glasgow
Martin O’Neill is edging closer to securing his first signing of his latest spell in charge of Celtic, with winger Jocelin Ta Bi set to travel to Glasgow to complete a move to Parkhead, according to the Daily Record.
Reports from France earlier in the week claimed that Celtic had struck a £2 million agreement with Israeli side Maccabi Netanya, and the Ivorian attacker now appears to be on his way to Scotland to finalise the transfer.
Ta Bi is expected to become the first of several January arrivals as Celtic look to reinforce O’Neill’s squad for the second half of the season following a frustrating start to the campaign.
Four-and-a-Half-Year Deal on the Table
French reports also suggested that Celtic moved quickly to push the deal through, sending medical staff to Israel to carry out Ta Bi’s examination ahead of an early January announcement.
The 20-year-old is believed to have agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Scottish champions, opting for a move to Glasgow despite interest from Stade de Reims, Charleroi and Trabzonspor.
A left-footed right winger, Ta Bi is known for his pace and close control, offering a direct attacking option that Celtic have lacked in wide areas this season.
Celtic’s shortage of natural right-sided players previously saw O’Neill deploy central midfielder Luke McCowan out wide during his interim spell, prior to Wilfried Nancy’s appointment.
‘A Dream Come True’ for Ta Bi
Speaking ahead of the expected confirmation, Ta Bi described the move as a lifelong ambition and paid tribute to his time in Israel.
“Playing for a club like Celtic is a dream come true,” he said.
“Without the support and love I received in Israel, I would not be where I am today. The trust shown in me helped me grow as a player.
“I will never forget my time on loan at Hapoel Petah Tikva and the warmth I felt there. Now I’m ready to fulfil a big dream at a famous club, in one of the greatest stadiums in the world.”
Leave a Reply