Celtic have suffered another January transfer blow with Juventus said to be advancing on an agreement to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager on a free transfer, according to a journalist on Fabrizio Romano's Italian YouTube channel.
Manager Martin O'Neill has been desperate to add multiple new faces to his squad this month but with just days of the window remaining, the only two arrivals so far have been Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara.
The Bhoys are still looking for reinforcements in goal, at centre-back and on the wing, with the club also being linked with signing another centre-forward and new central midfielder.
Schlager was one of the names Celtic were said to be interested in for the latter position, but now the Swiss international could be heading to Serie A instead.
Celtic Were Eyeing Move for Schlager
Xaver Schlager in action for RB Leipzig in 2025-26
It was reported by German football website 4-4-2 last week that Celtic were eyeing a move for the 28-year-old ahead of his Leipzig contract expiring this summer.
The Bhoys were said to face competition from Juve and AS Roma for the signature of the midfielder, who joined the Bundesliga club in a deal worth £10.5m from Wolfsburg in 2022.
Another interesting twist to the tale was that the German club are said to hold an interest in Celtic's Arne Engels, who cost the Scottish giants a club-record £11m fee 18 months ago.
The report also claimed that Leipzig were willing to sell Schlager for £4m before the transfer deadline next Monday, but now it appears as though Juventus are close to reaching an agreement to sign him on a free transfer in the summer, according to Romano's YouTube channel on Tuesday evening.
Celtic Running Out of Time
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill interviewed on the pitch
Celtic are reported to want at least two - and ideally more than two - new faces through the door before Monday's 7pm deadline, but they are running out of time to get the deals done.
Not only has the lack of additions been frustrating for O'Neill and the fans, but they have also missed out on other reported key targets already this month.
A deal for Jocelin Ta Bi looked all but done before he joined Sunderland in the Premier League instead, while they are said to lie behind Championship club Stoke City in the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Yaser Asprilla has also joined Galatasaray ahead of the Bhoys, who were also snubbed by former striker Kyogo Furuhashi as he chose to remain at Birmingham City.
Make-or-Break Week for O'Neill
martin o'neill
Not only do Celtic need new signings to ensure they challenge Hearts and Rangers for the Scottish Premiership title, but they also face a crucial tie with Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Bhoys currently lie in the final play-off qualifying spot and know that a draw or defeat against the Dutch side at Parkhead could see them eliminated from the competition.