Celtic Strike Deal With Ligue 1 Side For This Wide Attacker: Right Call From O’Neill?

If a recent report from French outlet Ouest-France is believed to be true, Celtic have struck a deal with Lorient for Joel Mvuka. The Norwegian is keen on the transfer, as he aims for regular football to boost his chances for a World Cup spot.

The 23-year-old winger progressed through the academy ranks of Asane back in his homeland before representing their senior side in 2019. Bodø/Glimt roped him in a couple of years later, and his flair down the wide was key to their Eliteserien triumph in 2021 and 2023. Mvuka plied his trade in France and completed a €5.5m move to Lorient in 2023, but was loaned to Swiss giants Young Boys for the second half of the 2023-24 season.

Despite contributing to The Yellow and Blacks’ Swiss Super League crown, the club opted not to trigger the buy option. Mvuka returned to France ahead of the 2024-25 campaign and represented the Merlucciidaes in the Ligue 2 upon their relegation the season before.

Although he scored just three times and assisted once in 30 appearances, Lorient earned an immediate promotion, with the youngster featuring from the right-hand flank. The French outfit are going strong this season in the top-flight. However, Mvuka has found his game time being limited, having slipped down the pecking order behind Théo Le Bris. With just 5 starts in 15 outings, he has failed to make any goal-bound contribution in Ligue 1 so far this term.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 08: Philipp Max of PSV Eindhoven battles for the ball with Joel Mvuka of Bodo during the UEFA Europa League group A match between PSV Eindhoven and FK Bodo/Glimt at Phillips Stadium on September 08, 2022 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Why He Is Not The Profile Celtic Should Look At

Meanwhile, Celtic have been linked with various right-sided attackers throughout the winter window. They have lost the race for Jesurun Rak-sakyi to Stoke City, and the rumoured moves for DAC Dunajská’s Damir Redzic and Frosinone winger Faris Ghedjemis have yet to reach any positive conclusion. Mvuka must be an alternative if they fail to land their preferred targets, but the Norway youth international is not a proven enough commodity to claim a first-team status at Parkhead, especially with a tight title race.

The Hoops snapped up players with a similar profile late in the summer. Both Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha have had little impact with their finishing and decision-making in the final third, thus forcing Martin O’Neill to restore Daizen Maeda to the left since Tomáš Čvančara’s arrival to resolve their striker conundrum.

In the wake of Jota’s season-ending injury and the veteran James Forrest being at the twilight of his career, Yang Hyun-Jun has stepped in and impressed from the right. Regardless of his flair and footwork, Mvuka won’t be an upgrade over their South Korean prospect, unless he proves the critics wrong.

Julián Araujo and Čvančara are exceeding expectations following their respective loans from Bournemouth and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and the fans would hope for a similar influence from the Norwegian if the deal gets concluded before the deadline.