ON-LOAN Diego Laxalt will NOT be signing a permanent deal with Saudia Arabian outfit Al Hilal, despite reports in Italy.
And Celtic did NOT make a bid for USA international central defender Mark McKenzie before his £4million switch to Genk earlier this week.
Uruguayan left-back Laxalt, who agreed a season-long switch from AC Milan in the summer, is wanted by Al Hilal, but their efforts to land the 27-year-old are doomed to failure.
The World Cup defender wants to remain in Europe and is keen to see out the campaign at Parkhead, according to a report in the Daily Record.
NO GO…Mark McKenzie was on the Celtic radar, but there was no firm bid.
The San Siro outfit have slapped a £7million price tag on the player who was brought in as emergency cover after Boli Bolingoli’s Parkhead career effectively came to an abrupt halt after his secret trip to high-risk Spain during lockdown in August. The blundering Belgian is now on loan in Turkey and Laxalt is battling Greg Taylor for the No.3 position.
As far as long-term target McKenzie, the 21-year-old Philadelphia Union pivot, is concerned, no firm offers were tabled to the MLS outfit.
The newly-capped international was on the champions’ radar, but the decision was taken not to pursue a deal which led to the defender heading for Belgium’s Jupiler League.
Neil Lennon is keen to bring in a centre-back after the news Christopher Jullien could be out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury following his sickening collision with a post in the 3-0 win over Dundee United last week.
Former loan star Filip Benkovic is a possibility to stage a dramatic return on loan from Leicester City, as CQN reported last night.
