Celtic put Greg Taylor through a medical on Saturday in a race to get his move over the line and get him into Sunday's Old Firm game.
A three-way deal for the Kilmarnock and Scotland full-back, which involved Hoops fringe men Jack Hendry and Calvin Miller going the other way, saw both clubs frantically working late on Saturday night to complete.
However it’s understood the season-long loan for stopper Hendry and a two-year deal for under-21 international Miller caused delays after the two clubs agreed a deal in principle for the left-back.
One player who will be straight into the squad for the game is Celtic’s other new boy Mohamed Elyounoussi, who has insisted he’s ready for a baptism of fire against Rangers.
And he’s out to prove he’s still worth the £16m Southampton paid for him last summer.
The 25-year-old winger penned a season-long loan deal on Friday night and trained for the first team with his team-mates at Lennoxtown yesterday.
Despite only starting one EPL game in 2019, however, he believes he can have an instant impact on the pressure-packed trip to Ibrox.
The Norwegian said: “It’s the manager’s decision whether I play or not and obviously I haven’t played a match for a long time but I feel okay, I feel fit and I have been training hard.
“I would like to play, of course. I have come here to make an impact and help the team to win games.
“So if he needs me, I am ready. Obviously it is a big game so either way it’s something I’m really looking forward to, whether I am watching or taking part.
‘I have played derbies before but I don’t think there is anything like this in Europe.”
Elyounoussi only managed 10 starts in 19 appearances as he struggled to hold down a place in the Saints team last season.
But he believes if he was a £16m player this time last summer, then he must still have the quality.
The 22-cap attacker said: “I talked about that to the manager and that’s what he said.
“I still have that quality but sometimes when you don’t play for a long time it messes with your head and confidence.
“I’ll be trying to get that back and help this team while I’m doing it."
