Celtic head coach Wilfried Nancy has already needed to cope with loads since transferring from Columbus Crew to interchange Brendan Rodgers within the dugout.
He misplaced his first 4 video games in control of the Scottish Premiership giants, together with the League Cup last towards St Mirren, however lastly picked up his first win towards Aberdeen final weekend.
The French tactician additionally has to cope with the lack of two wingers, Sebastian Tunekuti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, because of the African Cup of Nations, leaving him in need of expertise in huge areas.
Why Celtic have to signal a brand new winger in January
With the January switch window simply across the nook, the Scottish giants might be trying so as to add new choices within the huge areas to strengthen their squad.
The present system is a 3-4-2-1 with no ‘pure’ wingers, however the wing-backs play very excessive up the pitch like wingers, and the 2 No. 10s behind the strikers can generally really feel like wingers.
Nancy may have loads of choices at her disposal as soon as Tunekti and Balikwisha return from worldwide responsibility, however the query would be the high quality of these choices.
25/26 Premiership | Tunekti | It is completed |
|---|---|---|
Look | 11 | 7 |
the aim | 1 | 0 |
time per aim | 667 | Not relevant |
Key paths per recreation | 1.5 | 0.4 |
An enormous alternative has arisen | 1 | 1 |
help | 0 | 1 |
Statistics by Sofascore | ||
As you may see from the desk above, he has performed in 18 Premiership video games for the Hoops thus far this season, scoring one aim and offering one help, however his leads to entrance of aim have been fairly dismal.
That is why the membership needs to be trying to strengthen their vary of choices within the January switch window by signing one other ahead of upper high quality on the high finish of the pitch.
Celtic ought to goal to signal a right-sided attacker to strengthen Balikwisha, who’s used on the fitting and left, however they have already got an improve for Tunekuti ready at Parkhead.
Celtic star who might improve Sebastian Tunekuti
In Might, Hoops ahead Jota suffered an anterior cruciate ligament harm and was anticipated to be sidelined for round 9 months till February 2026. This implies he has not performed a single minute within the 2025/26 season but.
Chatting with supporters earlier this month, the Portuguese attacker mentioned he believed the restoration was “moving into the fitting course”, that means he was on monitor to hopefully return in February.
If Jota returns and turns into obtainable for choice in February, Nancy will not have to attend too lengthy to have a pleasant big selection of choices to select from, which might be an enormous improve for Tunekti.
Celtic paid £8 million to signal the huge man from Rennes within the January switch window earlier this yr, and he returned to Parkhead for a second spell, however he solely performed 11 video games within the Premiership earlier than struggling harm.
However in these 11 appearances, the previous Al Ittihad attacker confirmed the shape that endeared him to supporters in the course of the first interval, scoring 25 objectives and 23 assists in two seasons, in response to Sofascore.
In line with Sofascore, Jota began seven league video games final season, scoring 4 objectives, creating three “huge possibilities” and offering two assists. Meaning Tunekuti and Balikwisha have mixed for 3 objectives and twice as many assists thus far this season.
24/25 Premiership | one thing round 90 | Rank vs Winger |
|---|---|---|
xG | 0.48 | Prime 8% |
the aim | 0.63 | Prime 6% |
shot on track | 1.42 | Prime 6% |
Shah | 0.37 | Prime 8% |
help | 0.32 | Prime 17% |
A chance has arisen | 1.89 | Prime 25% |
Statistics by FotMob | ||
As you may see from the desk above, the Portuguese ace was one of the productive huge gamers within the division in 2024-25, rating increased than his positional friends in a variety of goalscoring and inventive metrics.
In line with FotMob, Tunekuti has averaged 0.14 objectives and 0.30 xA per 90 factors for Celtic within the Premiership this season, which suggests he’s not as productive in entrance of aim because the at the moment injured star.
Described by pundit Michael Stewart as a “game-changer” who will “increase the bar”, Jota is a confirmed performer who has performed for Celtic for 2 seasons and has executed simply that, that means he is kind of a protected choice for Nancy until accidents considerably impression efficiency ranges.
Subsequently, the 26-year-old wing wizard, who has not performed a single minute this season resulting from harm, might return as a major improve to Tunekuti and because the at the moment lacking winger Nancy when he returns to the sport in early 2026.
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