Ange Postecoglou is confident Celtic are close to completing their January shopping spree as they look to wrap up a £3m deal for Korean star Oh Hyeon-gyu.
The Hoops could seal the swoop in the next 48 hours with K-League Suwon Bluewings after upping their initial £2.5m bid and offering the hitman a package worth up to 10 times his salary in his homeland. Celts have stepped back from a move for Cho Gue-sung but are still on the striker hunt with Giorgos Giakoumakis weighing up a £3m move to Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan.
Defender Moritz Jenz could also be heading for an exit with clubs in Germany interesting in taking the Lorient loan signing after the centre back slipped down the Parkhead pecking order following the arrival of Yuki Kobayashi. A frontman to replace Giakoumakis is the main priority and 21-year-old Oh is understood to have his heart set on the move.
Josip Juranovic is also expect to seal his departure in the coming days with Union Berlin believed to be now leading the chase for the World Cup star, with interest also coming from Italy and England. It is understood the £2.5m signing from Legia Warsaw is in advanced talks with the Bundesliga outfit and a fee is close to being agreed with the Hoops.
Postecoglou remained tight-lipped on specific signings, he admitted the club were not far off landing their top targets. He said: “We’re progressing on all fronts, we’re obviously getting to the tail end of the window and we expect a conclusion either way to all our business in the next few days.”
When asked what Oh could bring to Celtic, Postecoglou said: “The same as any other hypothetical player you give me. I wouldn't bring them here unless I believe they could contribute.”
Centre back Jenz – who was not in the squad for the St Mirren win in midweek – could be on his way but Postecoglou shot down suggestions David Turnbull could go out on loan. The midfielder has battled back from injury and suspension and notched a sensational fourth in the Buddies win.
And Postecoglou dismissed talk of an exit. He said: “No. Dave’s very much part of what we’re building here. He’s been a bit unlucky, he got an unfortunate red card which meant he had to miss a couple of games that he would definitely have played a part in. Dave’s an important part of our set-up here and I’m sure he’ll be involved in the second half of the year.”
Postecoglou is set to give several of his fringe men game time against Morton in the Scottish Cup at Parkhead today. But he insisted every member of his squad will have roles to play in the run in.
Postecoglou said: “That was part of our planning this year. We felt that last year we didn’t have the squad depth we wanted particularly in the first half of the season. So this year, in the off-season and now in January, we worked hard to have a stronger squad, a more resilient group. That’s definitely the case but within the boys, even if they’re not starting or playing regularly they’re still making a contribution, which is the important thing.
“You’ll find all our attacking players have all contributed with goals. All the defenders have contributed to clean sheets, and in midfield, regardless of the combination I’ve chosen, they’ve all produced.”
January recruit Tomoki Iwata is expected to get his first run out for the Hoops following his arrival from Yokohama F Marinos. Postecoglou said: “I’ll put a team out I think can win the game for us. Tomoki’s still building up his fitness. He hasn’t played for quite a while but he is available.
"He’ll be part of the squad and if we get him some game time we will. But the team that goes out will hopefully get the job done.”
Postecoglou won’t treat Morton lightly as he’s aware the Greenock men famously dumped Celts out of the League Cup in September 2013. The boss said: “Yes that’s true. There’s been plenty of cup upsets both here and down south recently, so that tells you that no opponent should be under-estimated.
“We’ve scouted them. They had a pretty strong pre-Christmas period, results haven’t been as forthcoming.
“But they’ve an experienced group and they’re going to be set up to make it difficult for us. Like every cup competition, everyone goes into it wanting to create an upset so we’ll be ready and prepared to play our football.”
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