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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Celtic transfer state of play on Mendy, Solbakken, Jeahze and Jota with Champions League cash in touching distance

It's nearly transfer season and Celtic are starting to turn one eye towards their summer business.

Ange Postecoglou will be urging his players to keep their eyes firmly on the ball until the Premiership title is wrapped up but next season will already be lurking somewhere in his mind.

Should the Hoops win the Premiership as expected then, barring a potential Villarreal-shaped disaster, they will have some cash to burn with automatic Champions League qualification.

We've seen links with various new players emerge already while speculation continues to rumble over loanees and whether they will be there to stay.

It won't be another summer overhaul like last year but we can expect enough comings and goings to keep the headlines busy.

And Record Sport have taken a look at a few of the big transfer stories coming out of Parkhead.

Alexandre Mendy

A new striker might not be top of the agenda with Giorgos Giakoumakis, Kyogo and Daizen Maeda all battling it out for the No.9 spot.

But improvements in the final third rarely go wrong and big Frenchman Alexandre Mendy could offer plenty if reports in France prove correct.

The 6ft2' hitman has been subject to an offer from Celtic according to L'Equipe but their €3million offer is said to have been turned down.

Whether the Hoops will come back with an improved bid to add to their striking options remains to be seen.

Jota

The Portuguese wing wizard has been a smash hit since his loan arrival from Benfica and it would be an understatement to say fans are desperate for him to stay.

With 11 goals and 12 assists, he's been a key man so far and is a popular figure for far more than just his George Michael-esque good looks

(SNS Group)

There is an option to buy inserted in the deal, believed to be set around €7million (£6m) and it's thought Celtic are willing to cough up.

But they may opt to wait until the Premiership crown is wrapped up before announcing anything as far as a deal is concerned.

Jota certainly is, insisting over the weekend: "Of course, as football players we need to keep our minds on the pitch, that's all that matters.

"Bureaucratic things are for other times, so let me just play football and enjoy it.

The feeling in Portugal is Benfica won't push to keep him, with a potential head-turning approach from elsewhere Celtic's only real obstacle.

Ola Solbakken

Whether Jota stays or goes could have a huge impact on Celtic's transfer dealings this summer.

Bodo/Glimt wide man Solbakken has been linked as one potential solution to that problem with the Daily Mail saying he will be target No.1 if a deal cannot be struck for Jota.

But it's likely a new winger will still be on the agenda regardless of what happens there; James Forrest's drop off has been alarming, Mikey Johnston looks short of the standard required and Karamoko Dembele's contract is nearly up.

Solbakken looks a promising option having already shown Celtic what he can do with a goal against them in the Conference League.

Wiry and tricky but equally powerful and direct, he can do it all and has a wicked left foot to boot.

Mohanad Jeahze

Onto the defence now and natural cover for Greg Taylor is one area Celtic can certainly improve.

Josip Juranovic has been required to play out of position for large chunks of the season and Liam Scales' lack of recent game time suggests he isn't fancied there despite a promising run before the turn of the year.

Monad Jeahze of Stockholm side Hammarby has been touted for a move with the 25-year-old available for around £2m.

But he's been tight-lipped over a potential move only saying: “I can’t say much about that.

“I’ve always been very clear. If I am going to leave Hammarby it will be for something better than Hammarby. I love it here in Hammarby.”

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