Celtic close in on deals for Balikwisha & Saracchi

Michel-Ange Balikwisha, the left-back for Boca Juniors, and Marcelo Saracchi are both on loan from Celtic, who are both on a permanent deal.

Balikwisha, 24, did not play for the Belgian club’s weekend victory over Mechelen, but he has scored once in four games this year.

Defender Saracchi, 27, has played for Uruguay for nine times and has also played for RB Leipzig, Levante, and Galatasaray.

Manager Brendan Rodgers expressed his hope for some positive transfer news before the second leg when they returned to Glasgow.

Before the crucial game in Almaty, which you can watch live on BBC Radio Scotland Extra, Rodgers said, “I think by the time we get back, we will be close to one or two things.”

The Celtic boss has been subject to stringent questions all summer about the club’s transfer business, with the club’s management facing harsh criticism from the club’s management who believe there has been no business.

They will be Celtic’s first arrivals since Shin Yamada joined on July 19th if the deals for Balikwisha and Saracchi are finalized.

Former Belgium youth international Balikwisha, who scored four goals and assisted three in an injury-hit campaign last term, would make a welcome addition to Rodgers’ attacking options now that Nicolas Kuhn has been sold to Como.