Reports suggest he is a perfect fit for Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic scouts are reportedly weighing up the possibility of signing a “charismatic” new transfer target who is thought to be perfect for Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops are in the driving seat in the Scottish Premiership title race currently, leading Rangers by three points at the top of the table, but new signings will be required this summer regardless of what happens in the remaining weeks of the season.

It is essential that Rodgers continues to grow his squad, not least because their rivals are posing more of a threat again these days, but also because added quality will be badly needed in any potential Champions League campaign.

One player who will be leaving Celtic this summer is veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has decided to hang up his boots after a stellar career for club and country. Brondby stopper Patrick Pentz has been linked with a move to Parkhead as a replacement for the 37-year-old, with English and Dutch clubs also thought to be interested in him.

Pentz isn’t the only ‘keeper being looked at by the Hoops, with Liverpool ace Caoimhin Kelleher and Sunderland hero Anthony Patterson also emerging as options in the coming months.

In terms of other positions, rumoured Celtic target Callum O’Hare could leave Coventry City for free at the end of the campaign, having shone for the Championship side this season, scoring 10 goals in total.

Celtic scouts eyeing “charismatic” ace

According to a fresh report from Football Scotland, Celtic are interested in signing Cremonese midfielder Charles Pickel in the summer window, and have in fact “been offered” the chance to sign him.

The report states that “the Hoops are believed to have put the feelers out for a player in that position with the Cremonese man, 26, being put to them as someone who would fit the profile perfectly”, adding that the recruitment team currently have him under consideration.

Pickel may be something of an unknown compared to some of the names mentioned above, but that’s not to say that he couldn’t be a strong signing for Celtic. At 26, the 12-time capped DR Congo midfielder is at an ideal age to come in and make an impression straight away, and having been described as “charismatic”, would hopefully have no issue stepping up to the pressure of playing in Glasgow.

He switched his allegiance from Switzerland to Congo, having represented the former at Under-20, Under-19, Under-18 and Under-15 level, totalling 21 appearances across the four age groups, so he has plenty of international pedigree.

Additional midfield depth is something that Rodgers should be looking to bring in this summer and Pickel could be ideal, generally adopting a defence-minded role in front of the back-line, but still scoring three goals in 24 Serie A appearances this season.

The fact that Celtic’s scouts seem confident that he is the ideal fit for them can also only bode well, and it is hopefully a piece of business that they get over the line, pipping others to his signature in the process.

Pundit Outlines What Will “Worry” Brendan Rodgers After Semi-final

Celtic just about booked their place in next month’s Scottish Cup final on Saturday courtesy of an eventual victory over Aberdeen on penalty kicks.

It was a stressful afternoon for supporters who were hoping for a relatively easy watch in the spring Hampden sunshine.

Instead, they got the complete opposite as the Hoops went a goal down two minutes in. Strikes from Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest then turned the game on its head but Ester Sokler levelled at the end of the 90.

Midway through extra-time, Matt O’Riley put the Celts ahead once more but in the 119th minute, Angus MacDonald headed home a goal that was nearly identical to Sokler’s.

The Hoops’ defending for each of the Dons’ late levellers was hugely suspect and, according to Richard Foster, will worry manager Brendan Rodgers.

He said: [BBC Scottish Football Podcast] “They didn’t defend their box well and normally that’s something Celtic do very well. Teams struggle to get touches in the box against Celtic but Aberdeen seemed to do it at will.

“The goals were really poor defensively and that would be a worry for Brendan Rodgers.

“It would be worrying how many first contacts Aberdeen got in the Celtic box from crosses.

“If you’re looking at a team to go and play against Celtic now, you think to yourself ‘cross the ball in the box’. If you get first contact then you have an opportunity to go and score a goal.”

Foster’s last few words are telling given his role. Currently head of coaching at Motherwell, the 38-year-old indicates what opposing teams might do to Celtic between now and the end of the season.

It will be a nervy end to the campaign for all involved with the club with two trophies on the line.

Jeff Stelling sneers at Celtic and Rangers with bizarre Scottish Cup rant but Ally McCoist has perfect putdown ready

Stelling claimed that an all-Old Firm Scottish Cup would tire English spectators, but McCoist correctly answered ‘who cares?’

Jeff Stelling reckons English onlookers couldn’t care less about an all-Old Firm Scottish Cup final – because it seems like the Glasgow giants face each other ‘every week’.

But his talkSPORT partner in crime Ally McCoist had the perfect comeback ready and waiting as he sprung straight to Scottish football’s defence. It’s Rangers vs Celtic in the Hampden showpiece next month and remarkably it’s the first time both teams have made the final since 2002. May 25 is a date for every Scottish football fan’s diary but the game’s global reach is set to go far beyond that as the big two meet in a blockbuster finale to the season.

Since they last met in the final at Hampden 22 years ago, which Rangers came from behind to win a 3-2 thriller through Peter Lovenkrands, they’ve met in the semi-finals five times – and have faced off in the last four in five of the last eight years. So when attentions turned to the game on Stelling and McCoist’s Monday morning breakfast show, the former Sky Sports anchor wasn’t buying into the hype.

Interrupting a Scottish football love-in between McCoist and Shebahn Ahern, Stelling said: “Have they played each other a lot in the semi-finals? So that’s why they’re not getting to the final, because they’re knocking each other out before then.

“For God’s sake, every English football fan will be thinking ‘Rangers against Celtic? There’s a surprise!’ Why don’t they just play each other every week? Forget the rest!”

But a ready and waiting McCoist quickly clapped back: “Jeff, I have to inform you that we up here don’t give a monkey’s what every English football fan thinks!

“Yesterday’s game was a good one, Rangers vs Hearts. The one on Saturday, what a game by the way. Celtic-Aberdeen, a brilliant game to watch, finished 3-3, Celtic won on penalties. What a game of football.”

And Ahern had the final word as the seemingly Celtic-daft pundit chimed in: “Come on the Bhoys! We’ll end it on that…”

Charlie Mulgrew on what he is sure Brendan Rodgers will have told Celtic players in title battle

Celtic have put themselves in an encouraging position as we await the start of the post-split Scottish Premiership fixtures.

Of course, there is still a long way to go; however, a surge of positive form coupled with Rangers dropping points in back-to-back league matches has opened up a three-point gap at the top of the table.

Crucially, Celtic also have a positive goal differential of five over their rivals heading into their remaining top-flight encounters, which can almost be an extra point in the right circumstances, as seen under Ange Postecoglou.

This season has had its fair share of ups and downs for both sides of the Glasgow divide, with either side fumbling points in the Scottish Premiership on nine separate occasions.

Nevertheless, Celtic have drawn six and lost three; meanwhile, Rangers have the reverse, drawing three and losing six, proving that even on some of our off days where we have failed to see three points over the line, there are still outcomes that can be beneficial in the long run.

Either way, no Hoops supporter will be keen to see results in either column from now until all is said and done, and neither will Brendan Rodgers, who has his eyes firmly fixed on success.

Charlie Mulgrew on Brendan Rodgers’ preparation with Celtic

With the finish line in sight for both sides in the title race, former Celtic man Charlie Mulgrew believes that Rodgers will fully prepare his men for the tasks ahead regardless of goings on elsewhere.

Citing his old side’s ‘strong position’ heading into the run-in, the ex-Scotland international also believes that there is an advantage to build on for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions, though he doesn’t think that will produce internal naivety at the club.

He stated [PLZ Soccer]: “It’s been a funny season, with some ups and downs. It’s been good for the fans, but Celtic have got to feel that they’re in a strong position at the moment.

“(Celtic were) Unlucky not to get the win at Ibrox, disappointed with that, even if both teams before it might’ve taken a draw, and then Rangers obviously dropping points at Ross County gives them an advantage.

“There’s still loads to play for; they’re not naïve, and I’m sure the manager will have them prepared for the rest of the season, ready to go. (there’s) a big game against Rangers coming up, big games coming up everywhere.

“You seen the first half against St Mirren, it doesn’t matter who you play, teams can make it tough for you. They’ve got to be prepared for every game and it’s going to be a battle right to the end.”

Celtic need to show their ruthless streak during run-in

Rodgers’s message to his players has to be centred around showing ruthlessness in the final five league matches, as we can’t afford to become complacent just because of one or two advantageous outcomes elsewhere.

I’m sure most fans would agree with that statement as Celtic continue their quest to secure a domestic double, which continues against Aberdeen tomorrow at lunchtime in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Silverware at Parkhead is king, and it is time for the collective at Lennoxtown to step up and prove they deserve to claim first prize.

Aberdeen Jimmy Thelin ‘risky’ flak unfair as Celtic & Rangers given leeway

Jimmy Thelin hasn’t even entered the country yet but he’s already had pundits questioning why he was handed the Aberdeen job over the usual band of Scottish-based managers.

The names mentioned most prominently have been Malky Mackay, Neil Lennon and Stephen Robinson. Surely these guys with experience of the Scottish game are better options than this outsider, is the argument put forward.

Let’s assess that. Aside from all the obvious added baggage from a chequered past, Mackay has just been sacked by the team sitting second bottom of the Premiership. An interim boss is currently trying to save them from the relegation battle Mackay and Derek Adams left them in. In what world would his next job be at one of the biggest clubs in the country?

Neil Lennon was in charge of a similar-sized club to the Dons in Hibs and after a good start, left them in the bottom six and under a cloud after falling out with with people behind the scenes. Since then he’s had a 10-in-a-row disaster at Celtic and managed in Cyprus for a few months, albeit winning a cup but then being fired for underperformance in the league.

All that suggests these guys are not even the “safe pairs of hands” they’re being billed as. What is it about them that makes them so much more appealing than a young, hungry manager who is on an upwards trajectory? That they know the league? What good is that when their most recent jobs in said league have been failures?

Robinson is obviously the exception as he continues to have St Mirren punching above their weight and has done a very good job there. Derek McInnes would come into the same category.

But are they so far clear of Thelin just because they are from, or have managed in, this country?

Put it this way. If the Celtic or Rangers jobs were to come up right now would our pundits be putting these guys forward and dismissing any foreign bosses because they ‘don’t know the league?’ Of course not, because apparently it’s different for those two.

Philippe Clement has started to wobble at Ibrox in recent weeks but there is no-one giving it ‘ah you see, they should have gone with someone that knows the league’. You can bet they would be with any other club. In fact, some are with Nick Montgomery who has only been at Hibs for a few weeks more.

There seems to be some sort of fear of bringing in foreign managers in this country for any other club outside the big two. Just because they are both global clubs with big resources everyone seems to forget about this unwritten rule they’ve set about having to “know the league.” You’d think if that was so important it would matter even MORE at clubs where the demand for success is so great, the margin for error is so small and there is a uniqueness around the culture of playing and managing in Glasgow.

But no, they are allowed to go out and appoint Belgian managers who are unlikely to have watched many games of Scottish football in their life, but the likes of Aberdeen are criticised for casting their net out and trying something a bit different.

Thelin has been described as an impressive individual by those who have worked with him. He’s won titles, albeit at a lower level in Sweden, and finished second with Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan. That’s higher than the Hacken team who BEAT the Pittodrie side in Europe and significantly higher than the Hammarby side managed by Marti Cifuentes, who was given the QPR job in the Championship down south and turned around their form.

This is not some unknown manager who has been plucked from obscurity yet he’s met with the suggestion he’s not suitable for the Dons and all of this suspicion around bringing someone in from abroad. Can we not embrace someone who will likely have new ideas, a bit different to the norm here, and could just be a breath of fresh air in our game?

The same thing happened when Hearts appointed Daniel Stendel a few years ago. Okay, that didn’t end well but he was already on the back foot before a ball was kicked because of some apparent distrust of a foreign boss. He wasn’t coming from Siberia. He’d won promotion from League One in England, where our teams recruit players from, but they’re not allowed to take a manager who had been a success there because he’s not from the UK?

It’s not clear what it is the fans of Malky Mackay and co think they could have achieved at Pittodrie but what is clear is that Aberdeen supporters are much more enthused about the ride that Thelin could take them on.

Every managerial appointment is a risk. Is taking someone from another country a bigger risk? Perhaps ever so slightly, but the reward could be far greater than settling for a “safe pair of hands” that may not even be that safe after all.

What’s worse is that the Dons’ last three failed permanent managers have been Scottish. It’s not difficult to see why going down that road wouldn’t be that appealing to them.

“Hopefully I can just keep repaying their support,” Adam Idah

Adam Idah has been somewhat of a surprise package since Celtic brought him to the club on a loan deal from Norwich City in the January transfer window of this year. The big forward has consistently found the net for the Hoops and has managed to score some pretty important goals along the way since coming up the road to Scottish football.

Bagging a goal against your city rivals in a pressure-cooker of an atmosphere is not for the faint of heart, it has to be said. However, nothing about the Republic of Ireland international could be described as faint; Idah plays with no frills or airs and graces, he simply engages the opposition defence in a good old-fashioned duel to the death. And it’s been great to watch at times, it really has.

He’s brought a freshness and a vigour to the Celtic squad that has been missing and is certainly a throwback to the days of John Hartson and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink. Using that big, bustling frame, he’s always looking to press his authority in the final third of the pitch and that dig he brings to the game cannot be dismissed if the Bhoys are to go all the way this year and scoop what would be a very sweet third consecutive Scottish Premiership title come May.

The Cork native is enjoying his time with the current Champions and has admitted that he’s only beginning to realise how big this institution really is. “I popped into a couple of pubs back home in Cork. I didn’t expect all that, to be honest,” he said to Football Scotland. “I was shocked when I walked in! It was great seeing everyone. They sent me some footage of the place from the other weekend watching the theRangers game and the place looked amazing. It’s not far from where I grew up. My mate took me down and we met some fans and the owners. It was top class.

“I don’t think I would have got that reception if I wasn’t at Celtic. They’d just think I was just another local lad. Coming here you are treated like a hero wherever you go. It’s fantastic. I don’t know if I’ll need to buy a pint again – I hope not!

“The fans are so good. Every single person I’ve met has been top class. You can be driving through the city and people are cheering you on. It’s great for us players to have that fan base behind us. It really motivates you to fight for them.”

The player revealed he’s living in a new, mad, exciting, yet undeniably wonderful world as a Celtic striker, and now he’s looking to repay that magnificent support he has been given since he walked through those famous Parkhead gates.

He said: “I knew the club was huge when I came up. I know everyone says it but you don’t actually realise how big it is until you are here. For example, I got sent a video of the goal from a pub in Australia. It was mobbed and it was going crazy.

“You realise people are watching this all over the world. It’s amazing how big this club is. It has taken me a bit by surprise. I was saying to my mum recently, I didn’t actually realise just how many Celtic tops I was seeing when I was back home.

He added: “They have always been there but maybe I just wasn’t noticing as much. It’s still a bit of a shock to me. It’s been weird. There are so many fans back home that will come up to me.

“Even lads I used to kick a ball with when I was young and are still friends are asking me for photos. I’m thinking, ‘What is going on?’ It’s crazy. My life has gone a bit strange. No matter where I go I think I’m going to bump into Celtic fans somewhere. Hopefully I can just keep repaying their support.”

3 Celtic experimental solutions for Liam Scales injury with one Brendan Rodgers go to remaining

Brendan Rodgers has an injury headache to consider at crucial point in the campaign – with Celtic facing more problems at the heart of their defence.

Daizen Maeda could be out until next season in a blow to the Scottish Premiership leaders title surge – it is at centre-back that the Hoops can’t seem to shake their problems Liam Scales has picked up a strain in his abductor with Celtic boss Rodgers stating he is unlikely to be involved during the clash with St Mirren leaving the Irishman with a major rethink of his backline for Celtic Park showdown.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Scales have been the preferred partnership this season – but with the US international and Scales being hampered by injury woes at various points throughout the campaign. And when the Parkhead boss has been forced into a rethink that has often brought concerns over the recruitment since Rodgers’ return into the limelight.

But with Celtic knowing that every game is a must-win with Rangers breathing down their necks it’s a far from ideal time to break up your preferred partnership. Record Sport looks at the options to partner Carter-Vickers.

Gustaf Lagerbielke

The Swedish defender was close to leaving Parkhead for Lecce in January after a lack of game time, but could he now have a say on the title race? He was kept around for cover during an injury crisis but still has rarely managed to secure any minutes after his £3million move last summer.

Lagerbielke has not started a game since September and has managed just two substitute appearance since his January switch to Serie A collapsed. If the decision was to keep him around due to injuries the 24-year-old will hope to finally get his chance against the Buddies.

Maik Nawrocki

Maik Nawrocki has faced an injury-hampered spell at Celtic and saw a brief run in the team come to an abrupt halt following he return of Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Polish centre-back limped off against Motherwell back in February and has yet to make another appearance.

He was designated as Liam Scales partner while Carter-Vickers was out and having made the bench in recent weeks he will be hoping he gets the chance to replace the Ireland cap. After making just 10 appearances so far this season fans will be keen to see how their £4.3million summer signing fairs on the right-side of a centre-back duo.

Stephen Welsh

The 24-year-old has remained a trusted figure at the back following Brendan Rodgers return to Celtic Park. Despite being hampered by his own injury problems this season, Welsh has often been the go-to defender should Scales or Carter-Vickers be sidelined.

When Scales was last absent in the win over St Johnstone, Welsh was given the nod. Given the stakes at play Rodgers could turn to a tested pairing.

Tomoki Iwata

While Tomoki Iwata has shown his best in the Celtic engine room in recent weeks, the return of Callum McGregor could see him pushed into a deeper role. While the fitness of the Celtic skipper remains up in the air, Iwata has shown he can play at centre-back already this season.

The midfielder was pushed back into the heart of the defence before Rodgers’ turned to Lagerbielke in the 3-1 defeat to St Johnstone. With Iwata having regular minutes under his belt, could he fill the void left by Scales?