Chris Sutton has claimed that Celtic will not complete the signing of key January transfer target Charly Musonda until the final 48 hours of the January transfer window.
The Scottish reigning champions have been strongly linked with a January move for the Chelsea youngster, amid reports that they are considering on signing him on loan for the rest of the season.
Writing in his weekly Daily Record column, the Celtic legend believes the Belgium young striker would be a fine signing for Celtic but believes the club will have to bide the time to seal a deal for the Belgium Under-21 international.
Sutton said:
“Rodgers says he’s looking for quality.”
“If you are trying to improve a team that has won the last four trophies out of four, went 69 domestic games unbeaten and made the Champions League group stage in the past two seasons, you might have to pay out and you might have to wait.”
“It’s a game of poker. Clubs wait, wait, wait, then bang. Two days before the window closes all hell breaks loose.”
“Celtic are being linked with Charly Musonda from Chelsea, for example. That deal can’t happen until Antonio Conte has sorted out his plans and that’ll likely not happen until January 30 at the earliest.”
“It’s a game of chess and a game of patience which, in fact, may also have an effect on Celtic when it comes to players going out.”
“Gambles will be taken down south in the final hours. A couple of daft bids will come in for players, I’m sure.”
Football Weeks’ view:
Charly Musonda would be a mighty fine January signing for a Celtic side which destroys all-comers in Scotland but needs greater cutting edge in European competition. The Belgian forward could provide this in the second half of the season. Musonda is down the pecking order behind the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian at the Bridge although it’s worth noting that he made a later substitute appearance in Chelsea’s 4-0 demolition of Brighton on Saturday, just his sixth senior appearances for Chelsea so far in his career.
The youngster is at a stage in his career where he needs regular senior football after comprehensively proving himself at Under-23s level. Blisteringly quick, direct and skillful, he could make just as big an impact for Celtic as Patrick Roberts.