Michel-Ange Balikwisha back on agenda, Wanyama looking 'really good', Jota praises Maeda impact - Celtic news bulletin
It's your AM Hoops news bulletin all in one place as Brendan Rodgers begins planning for the summer
Michel-Ange Balikwisha is back on Celtic's agenda after scouts reportedly watched him in action over the weekend.
The £5million-rated winger has been on Brendan Rodgers' radar for some time and The Scottish Sun report that the Hoops ran a fresh check on him during Royal Antwerp's thrashing by Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday night.
The runaway league leaders - set to wrap up another Scottish Premiership crown - are ramping up summer transfer plans as they plot another big Champions League adventure, with a round of qualifying to negotiate this time around.
We previously revealed that the winger turned down a move to Parkhead in January because he didn't want to make the move to Scotland while injured - but left the door open to a summer switch.
He said at the time: "Celtic's interest was concrete, but I chose to stay. Leaving with an injury was not ideal for me. I would rather take good care of myself so I could be ready for the play-offs. We will see in the summer transfer window."
The same publication reports that Celtic are keeping close eyes on the Belgian league with USG pair Noah Sadiki and Franjo Ivanovic just two of the names who continue to attract attention from scouts across Europe.
They would fit the Celtic transfer profile - but would come with big price tags to bring on board.
Meanwhile, Neil Lennon picked up his first Dunfermline win after dumping Livingston and moving out of the Championship relegation play-off spot.
The Celtic hero - now in charge at East End Park - grabbed a 1-0 win to boost his survival hopes and majorly dent David Martindale and his troops in their quest to chase down leaders Falkirk.
He said: “For everyone associated with the club, really. You know, especially the supporters, the players, the staff here who have been brilliant with me and obviously, you know, the owner and the chairman who have been really supportive.
"Really tough game, we knew it would be but I thought the players responded magnificently to what we asked them to do. I’m really proud of the players tonight, not only the starting eleven, but the three subs who came on made us, gave us the energy, made us better against a top team in this division. So, it’s one step, that’s all it is, in the right direction.”
Victor Wanyama arrived in a major coup for the club but was sent off on his debut. While Lennon doesn't expect any more surprise signings, he insists his big name recruit is getting better and better each day and be a welcomed addition to the squad.
He said: "No, I wouldn’t have thought so. So, you know, Victor’s missed tonight but he’s been training really good. He’s starting to look really good now.
"Obviously he’s rusty but his feet are getting better and his sharpness is getting better. So, yeah, he’ll be a welcome addition to the squad because it’s threadbare at the moment.”
Elsewhere, Jota has heaped praise on team-mate and fellow attacker Daizen Maeda.
The Hoops star took his goal tally to 30 for the campaign in the weekend win over Hearts with his boss Rodgers tipping him for even more goals.
He said: “Every season is different and the team is made for us to be the best version of ourselves. Obviously, if everyone is doing their own bit then it’s going to allow other players to shine.
"And with Daizen I think that was the case. The team is putting him in very good positions to score and he’s doing a very good job on making it, and fighting really hard for the team, so credit to him.”