According to a report from Portuguese source A Bola, Celtic has reportedly entered the competition to sign promising Turkish midfielder Demir Ege Tiknaz. French club Lille was already monitoring the player, but his impressive loan spell with Rio Ave has now attracted the attention of the Scottish champions.
The 20-year-old Turkish youth international developed through Besiktas`s academy system, making 29 senior appearances before moving to Vilacondenses on loan last summer. The Portuguese club has an option to make the transfer permanent for €5 million, which they must activate by next Tuesday. Any further sale negotiations would occur after this deadline.
The young midfielder, currently on senior international duty, is valued by the Hoops at approximately £8.4 million. While Celtic doesn`t frequently spend such significant transfer fees, the recent high-profile departures of Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion (£26m) and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes (£10m) in the winter window provided the financial capacity for notable acquisitions last season, such as Arne Engels, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty, and Jota. However, further midfield strengthening is seen as necessary, especially following inconsistent performances, including a home loss to rivals Rangers.
Why Celtic Needs This Youngster
Brendan Rodgers currently utilizes Engels and Reo Hatate in the `number 8` roles, with Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo providing depth and cover in central midfield. However, the team lacks a natural deep-lying replacement for captain Callum McGregor. McGregor`s absence due to injury significantly impacted the team`s structure in their 3-2 defeat, with Engels struggling to dictate play from a deeper position against opponents like Nicolas Raskin and Connor Barron.
Although versatile, Paulo Bernardo has not consistently demonstrated the required composure as a `number 6`. Celtic is seeking a player with greater physical presence combined with technical skill. At 6 ft 4 in, Tiknaz fits this profile and showcased his all-around capabilities during the recent season. He contributed 4 goals and 2 assists in 28 league appearances as a defensive midfielder, proving his effectiveness in the heart of the pitch. With guidance from Rodgers, Tiknaz could potentially develop into McGregor`s long-term successor if a transfer is completed in a timely manner.
Furthermore, Celtic must successfully navigate the Champions League playoff rounds to reach the group stage. Qualification for Europe`s premier club competition could be a significant factor in persuading the young talent to choose a move to Scotland over France, particularly as Lille narrowly missed out on qualification to Nice due to goal difference.
