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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Celtic transfer bulletin as Mikey Johnston exit delay explained while Mohammad Abu Fani handed second chance

Celtic started their bid to keep the Scottish Premiership title in Glasgow's east end with a win over Aberdeen as Ange Postecoglou's revamped squad got their first outing.

There has been seven players arriving at Celtic Park so far this summer but there has been radio silence from the champions since the arrival of Aaron Mooy and Mortiz Jenz. However, ahead of the clash with Ross County the Australian boss admitted the club were still looking for deals this summer with players set to arrive at Parkhead as well as go out the door with the likes of Mikey Johnston, Christopher Jullien and Albian Ajeti facing uncertain futures.

Winger Johnston had looked to be heading to Standard Liege for a reunion with former boss Ronny Deila, having been on the fringes under Postecoglou as the club surged to the Scottish Premiership title with his last competitive appearance coming back in March against Dundee United in a 14 minute cameo. He failed to make the bench for the opening day fixture against Aberdeen with a move to Belgium seemingly imminent.

However, Sudinfo report that the club were waiting for incoming sporting director Fergal Harkin to rubber stamp the deal. He has left his role at Manchester City to join Deila's overhaul in Belgium.

In terms of incomings, a midfield enforced appears to be high on the Celtic agenda and Mohammad Abu Fani is a name that hasn't gone away. The Maccabi Haifa midfielder has been involved in an ongoing row with the Israeli club after being used sparingly during the Champions League qualifiers.

The club had aimed to keep the player at the club until they had guaranteed European football, but he has came off the bench in every Champions League qualifier so far. Reports in Israel state the player was left unhappy by the decision and had confronted Haifa president Uzi Mor after an offer from a European club had been knocked back.

Despite the fallout, Sport 5 report Abu Fani will get a second chance under boss Barak Becher. He has reportedly told the player he will be given game time against Apollon Limassol in the Champions League second leg, with Haifa leading 4-0 going into the fixture in Cyprus.

Elsewhere, Jordan Larsson has penned a deal with Schalke. Larsson Jr was a free agent as the son of Parkhead icon Henrik left Spartak with his contract ripped up following Russia's invasion of Ukraine back in June.

Rumours had suggested a fairytale move to Celtic was on the cards. The Sweden cap has rubber stamped a deal with the Bundesliga outfit.

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