Anthony Joseph: Celtic received 11th-hour bid for 'explosive' ace but Nicholson stood firm
Celtic received a late offer for midfielder Ismaila Soro from Dutch side Fortuna Sittard on deadline day, according to Anthony Joseph.
Described as a player with ‘explosive power’, the Ivorian midfielder was transfer-listed by the Hoops during the January transfer window, with no firm bids coming in for the majority of the month.
The 23-year-old has made 18 appearances under Ange Postecoglou this season, but only six of those came as a starter. Soro’s last Premiership start came way back on the opening weekend of the campaign and he remains a Celtic player despite a late bid arriving at CEO Michael Nicholson’s desk.
Joseph took to Twitter late on deadline day to provide an update on Soro. He revealed that Fortuna Sittard tabled a loan bid for the midfielder, but Nicholson stood firm with the two clubs failing to reach an agreement on an option to buy fee. The journalist outlined:
“A loan deal to Fortuna Sittard for Celtic midfielder Ismaila Soro looks unlikely after negotiations stalled.
“It’s understood the two clubs could not agree on a fee for the option-to-buy clause.”
Even though the deadline is now shut in Scotland, there are still a number of countries which can still do business. Therefore, Soro could still seal a Parkhead exit over the coming weeks, so Celtic were right to be stubborn when it comes to any permanent clauses in a loan deal.
The Hoops want to recoup the £2m fee they paid for the midfielder, and hopefully they can do just that over the next few weeks.
In other news: Joseph reveals more late Celtic transfer news on £9k-p/w colossus
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