Report confirms worrying Celtic development, Postecoglou will be gutted - opinion

Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli is set to return to Parkhead following the collapse of his loan deal.

That’s according to a report by the Glasgow Evening Times, who claim that, as a result of the current diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia, the left-back has failed to acquire a work visa that would allow him to play competitively for FC Ufa – the side who the defender joined on a short-term loan deal in February.

The report goes on to state that, despite having spent a month at Ufa’s winter training camp in Turkey, with the 26-year-old unable to feature for the Russian side, he will now return to Celtic in the coming days.

While the termination of Bolingoli’s loan deal is by no means his own fault, considering just how little Ange Postecoglou utilised the left-back in the first half of the season, in addition to the fact that the 26-year-old is earning a reported £15k-per-week at Parkhead, the defender’s early return will nevertheless have left the Greek-Australian coach gutted.

Indeed, after making just two appearances for Celtic in the current campaign, Bolingoli’s loan spell at Ufa presented the £1.35m-rated man with the perfect opportunity to put himself in the shop window ahead of the summer transfer market – as his permanent exit from Celtic Park is undoubtedly something that both the player and the club would like to happen at the end of the season.

However, with the player who Neil Lennon dubbed “stupid” now looking as if he will revert back to being a last-choice option on the left of the Celtic backline, the Bhoys’ chances of selling the former Belgian youth international this summer have certainly been reduced – something that will come as a great annoyance to Postecoglou and his side.

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