It looks like being a busy week of activity at Parkhead as the champions prepare to return to action on the park
Fares Ghedjemis
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Celtic are set to step up the chase to land Fares Ghedjemis – but Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels are on the verge of checking out of Parkhead.
The Hoops are locked in talks with Frosinone after the wanted wide man was left out of the Serie A new boys’ friendly clash with Benevento on Saturday.
Celts are understood to have had an opening offer rejected but are preparing to go back in with another blockbuster bid to snap up the Algerian World Cup ace.
But boss Martin O’Neill is resigned to losing key men Engels and Johnston in the next few days.
Record Sport understands Johnston is close to sealing a move to Everton in a deal worth up to £15m.
The Canada star has told Celts he is keen on the switch to the Premier League outfit but the clubs are still in negotiations.
It’s understood the Toffees are offering a package of around £12m up front plus add-ons, but the Hoops want more.
The deal is expected to be thrashed out while West Ham are preparing to slap in an improved offer for Engels.
The Championship big guns have already had two bids rejected as they fell way below Celtic’s valuation.
The Hoops knocked back Nottingham Forest in January after an offer of £20m with up to £5m in bonuses and are looking for similar numbers from the Hammers.
Engels is already down the line with personal terms and the switch is also expected to progress in the coming days.
Celtic's Arne Engels in action
Celtic's Arne Engels in action(Image: SNS Group)
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The move is set to trigger an immediate return to talks with Paderborn over midfielder Mika Baur.
Celtic have been bogged down with the German outfit demanding £7m for the playmaker after rejecting a bid of around £4m.
The Hoops will return to the table with the Germany under 21 star already sold on a move to Scotland.
Meanwhile O’Neill has revealed he’s held talks with Parkhead chiefs to prepare a path for Callum McGregor beyond his playing days.
The captain handed his gaffer a major boost by committing to the club amid interest from sides in Saudi Arabia.
The 33-year-old has two years left on his contract and O’Neill said: “He had a good conversation with Michael, the CEO. It didn't need reiterating what we think of him here, his potential, and what he can do.
"Right about now, he should be starting to think about coaching badges, so there's always a role for him here.
"He's got a couple of years left to run on his contract and he by all accounts wants to stay, that's what he said to me. "He's happy.
“If I was thinking at boardroom level, I'd be thinking something along those lines.”
Asked if McGregor was a future boss, O’Neill said: "That is extremely possible. It's too early for him to think about that, but he's definitely managerial material.
"There were some lads that have done well as managers that I had that you wouldn't have immediately thought that was the case, and there's other ones I thought would be terrific, and it didn't materialise. Is Callum a coach on the pitch? Very much so.”
O’Neill is gearing up for Monday night’s Premiership opener against Dundee while also chasing new recruits in the background.
He admitted he will be keeping tabs on the Champions League draw, with Celts set to learn their fate for the play-off showdown.
(Image: Roddy Scott/Shutterstock)
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The Hoops could be paired with LASK from Austria, Norway champs Viking, Danes Aarhus or Sabah from Azerbaijan, Slovenians Celje or Ararat from Armenia – or a repeat clash with Kairat if they can get past Levski Sofia.
O’Neill wants bodies in the door for the clash on August 18 or 19 and said: “Obviously there is excitement but in an ideal world it would be great to have some more players in.
“But I am looking at getting as much quality if you can, and still balancing things, like players leaving.
“The draw is obviously very important but the game, to me, is the most important against Dundee. Everything else would take care of itself. But I would hopefully be speaking to you in a couple of weeks' time and thinking we've got a squad capable of lasting this season.
"I was told we could have one of five or six teams. Every single one of them would have normal concerns for me."