JORDAN IBE was the one that got away as Celtic beat the deadline to bring in Kilmarnock right-back Greg Taylor and teenage defenders Jeremie Frimpong, from Manchester City, and Manchester United’s Lee O’Connor.
The Bournemouth winger was on the Hoops’ radar, but no deal materialised after his manager Eddie Howe decided the player was too valuable to his first team squad, as CQN predicted a week ago.
The former Liverpool forward was searching for game time and a switch from the south coast outfit looked likely during the window, especially with the 23-year-old attacker falling behind Scotland international Ryan Fraser and on-loan Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson in the pecking order at the Premier League side.
Ibe would have been an interesting addition to the eight-in-a-tow champions’ squad, but Neil Lennon covered all bases when he signed Southampton raider Mohamed Elyounoussi on a season-long loan.
Frimpong, 18, and O’Connor, 19, both arrived to secure deals just before the midnight signing cut-off, as CQN reported.
Heading for the exit in loan moves were Ewan Henderson (Ross County), Anthony Ralston (St Johnstone), Jack Aitchison (Forest Green) and Stephen Welsh (Morton).
