Brendan Rodgers is in the market for a striker and a heavily linked 25-goal hitman has left the door open
Youssef El Kachati has been linked with Celtic
Youssef El Kachati has been linked with Celtic(Image: Getty Images)
Celtic-linked goal machine Youssef El Kachati has stunned Hannover 96 by making an 11th-hour transfer U-turn.
The Moroccan forward is hot property after firing Telstar to Eredivisie promotion and has reportedly attracted interest from Parkhead.
El Kachati - who rattled 25 goals in 45 games for the newly-promoted Dutch minnows - is out of contract this summer and recently revealed he has several offers on the table.
German second-tier outfit Hannover 96 thought they had won the race for the hitman's signature, with Kicker claiming that sporting director Marcus Mann had reached a verbal agreement with the 25-year-old over a free transfer in May.
But various reports in Germany now state that El Kachati has had a change of heart and has set his sights on joining a top-tier club playing in European competition.
And that could leave the door open for Brendan Rodgers to swoop as the Scottish champions search for a successor to Kyogo.
Meanwhile, returning hero Kieran Tierney has delivered his final interview as an Arsenal player as the left-back heads back to Celtic Park.
Tierney - who made 144 appearances for the Gunners - became an instant fans' favourite following his £25million move to the Emirates six years ago.
And the Scotland defender has bid an emotional farewell by sending a special message to his adoring Gooners.
Celtic-bound Kieran Tierney
Celtic-bound Kieran Tierney(Image: PA)
He told the club's media: "Just thank you for everything from day one. They supported us through the good times and the bad, and they supported me through some hard times as well.
"I think that’s what I’m most grateful for, the times where it wasn’t so good or so easy for me is when they probably supported me most, so I’m just very grateful and I feel very lucky to have the support from them.
"I feel so lucky that I’ve played for this club and the love that the supporters have given me has been amazing. I’ve loved every day here and I’ve learned so much, I’ve improved so much and I just feel very lucky.
"When I first came in, obviously the club is huge, absolutely massive, but in the league table we were probably where we shouldn’t be.
"I think the growth over the last three or four years has been incredible and I think this club and this group of players and the manager are just going to go on to even better things in the future.
"It’ll be hard but it’s a happy goodbye. I’ve loved it here, loved every minute of it. There are countless memories that are amazing for me; your debut is always special, and winning the FA Cup as well in the first season.
"It’s a great team, and I’m so close to some of the boys in there. I’ve been here a long time, so it’ll be sad but a happy goodbye."
Elsewhere, Matt O'Riley admits he's unhappy at Brighton amid interest from Premier League rivals Everton.
Brighton star Matt O'Riley
Brighton star Matt O'Riley(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
The ex-Celtic star endured a frustrating debut campaign for the Seagulls following last summer's £25m switch from Parkhead and missed a huge chunk of games through injury.
O'Riley, 24, bemoaned the fact he's been unable to play in his favoured position under head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who has used Georginio Rutter in the No. 10 role instead.
Speaking in his homeland, the Denmark international said: "I am not completely happy, and I am just giving my opinion.
“It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you are not completely happy with. I can play better for the team if I play the number eight position, but I can play well in other positions.
"You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don’t lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn’t agree."
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