Celtic Manager O’Neill Confirms Talks Over Iheanacho and Saracchi Returns

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has indicated that the club is exploring the possibility of bringing Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi back to Glasgow. O’Neill confirmed that Celtic’s chief executive, Michael Nicholson, has engaged in discussions with the representatives of both players.

Iheanacho, who spent time with Celtic last season, and Saracchi, a left-back also previously linked with the club, are both reportedly being considered for a return. O’Neill stated that Nicholson “has spoken to” Iheanacho’s agent and that “it’s the same with” Saracchi’s agent, signalling active pursuit of their services.

Por que importa

The news comes as Celtic continues to strengthen its squad, with a focus on bringing in players who have prior experience in the Scottish Premiership and are familiar with the club’s environment. Both Iheanacho and Saracchi have previous ties to Celtic, potentially simplifying any integration process should a deal be struck.

Key facts
| Player | Position | Previous Club Link |
|——————-|———-|——————–|
| Kelechi Iheanacho | Striker | Celtic (last season)|
| Marcelo Saracchi | Left-back| Celtic (linked) |

Contexto

Saracchi, an Uruguayan international aged 28, is reportedly available for transfer from Boca Juniors, his current club. This suggests a potential opportunity for Celtic to secure his signature if negotiations prove successful.

O’Neill, however, remained non-committal regarding speculation linking Celtic with Reims midfielder Mory Gbane, 25. When asked about interest in the French midfielder, the Celtic manager declined to comment, suggesting that Gbane is not a current priority or that the club is keeping its transfer targets under wraps.

In other transfer news surrounding Scottish clubs, Aberdeen has reportedly received over £1 million from Odense for the transfer of winger Topi Keskinen, 23. The Finnish international’s move is expected to yield a significant profit for the Dons.

Rangers are also said to be nearing an agreement for Cammy Devlin, a 28-year-old Australian midfielder who recently departed Hearts. Devlin has publicly thanked the Hearts support following his exit. Rangers manager Steven Pressley has also indicated that Dundee are actively seeking to sign an additional five to six players.

Hearts’ new head coach, Wouter Vrancken, has emphasized the need for his players to gain match fitness ahead of their Champions League qualifying tie against Sturm Graz. Meanwhile, Dundee United has accepted a bid from a Czech club for Republic of Ireland international Will Ferry, 25, who is expected to explore his options.

Former Easter Road player Liam Fontaine has offered his endorsement for defender Jason Kerr, tipping him to perform well at Hibernian.

The potential return of Iheanacho and Saracchi would add depth and experience to Celtic’s squad. Both players have demonstrated their capabilities in the Scottish league, and their familiarity with the club could make them valuable assets as Celtic aims for domestic and European success. The ongoing talks suggest a genuine interest from the club, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.

Source: BBC Sport Football – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c872z0dppx4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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