Celtic transfers: Italy U21 star on radar, £5.7m striker 'likely' to join, major Daizen Maeda shift

Italy Under-21 star on radar

Celtic are showing an interest in Italian Under 21 international Issa Doumbia, according to reports in Italy.

The 22-year-old midfielder is currently starring with Venezia in Serie B where he has contributed four goals and two assists in 17 appearances this season having joined from Serie C side AlbinoLeffe 18 months ago.

The Ivorian-Italian has three caps for Italy's U21 team and was part of the squad at the last U21 European Championship, although he has since turned 22.

Italian media outlet TuttoMercatoWeb report that scouts from Celtic, Club Brugge and Espanyol have been monitoring Doumbia's performances and were present during his team's recent 2-0 victory over Monza.

Venezia reportedly rejected a €6million offer from Southampton in the summer, and the player's value is considered to have risen since. Doumbia also has a long-term contract that runs until 2029.

£5.7m striker 'likely' to join

A January move to Celtic is "most likely" for Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali.

That is according to Palestine manager Ihab Abu Jazar who believes he has persuaded the 26-year-old international to reunite with Wilfried Nancy in Glasgow. Ali was recruited by Nancy for Columbus Crew back in July, with the MLS club paying Egyptian giants Al Ahly £5.7million for his services.

Nancy is already under pressure Celtic after losing his first three matches in charge - including a 3-1 League Cup final defeat to St Mirren on Sunday - but he is expecting to be be backed by the club in the January window.

And Palestine boss Jazar reckons Danish-born Ali could be one of the new arrivals.

Speaking to media in Qatar, he said: "Wessam Abou Ali has a number of offers during the current period, and I advised him to move to Europe.

"He's received great interest from Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, and Al Ahly in Egypt wanted to bring him back to their club. But I told him to accept the offer from Celtic in Scotland.

"I strongly believe a move to Celtic is the most likely and best outcome for him."

Major Daizen Maeda shift

Celtic fans had been preparing for the prospect of losing star man Daizen Maeda in the January window after the striker revealed he wanted to leave the club in the summer.

However, in a major shift, the Japanese international has now informed Parkhead chiefs that he is willing to remain in Glasgow until after next summer's World Cup, according to a report.

The 28-year-old previously disclosed that he had agreed terms with another club in the summer only for Celtic to block the move following the sale of Adam Idah to Swansea City. Maeda remained with Celtic while free agent Kelechi Iheanacho was brought in to supplement the attack after the window closed.

Fears that Maeda would make a hasty exit next month may have been put to bed with The Herald reporting that Maeda has “indicated a willingness to stay until the World Cup is over”.

Maeda, who turns 29 next year, has less than 18 months left on his Celtic contract. He is the club's joint-top goalscorer this season alongside Benjamin Nygren with five goals apiece and has netted 60 times in 160 appearances in total.