THE HOOPS NEED A DEFENDER URGENTLY… AND THE IDEAL ANSWER COULD ALREADY BE LINING UP A MOVE

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurèle Amenda is reportedly stepping up efforts to secure a loan move away from the Bundesliga side, with Celtic positioned among a growing list of clubs tracking his situation closely.

The Switzerland international is understood to be eager for regular first-team football as he looks to cement his place in his country’s World Cup plans. However, opportunities have been limited in Germany, with Amenda finding himself on the periphery of Frankfurt’s matchday squads in recent weeks. His lack of involvement was again highlighted on Friday night, when he remained an unused substitute during Frankfurt’s dramatic 3–3 draw against Werder Bremen.

Standing at an imposing 6ft 6in, Amenda believes a temporary move would offer the consistent minutes required to accelerate his development and enhance his international prospects. Sources indicate the defender has begun exploring loan options, with Celtic identified as one of the clubs keen to take advantage of his availability. The Scottish Premiership champions are understood to admire his physical profile, versatility and long-term potential.

Despite the interest, Frankfurt are thought to be cautious about allowing the centre-back to leave midway through the campaign. Reports in Germany suggest the Bundesliga outfit want to bring in defensive cover before approving any exit, wary of weakening their squad depth during a demanding second half of the season.

However, according to Estadio Deportivo, Amenda is now actively “pushing” club officials to sanction a move. The report claims competition for his signature is intensifying, with Valencia, Torino, Nice, Lorient and Mainz all entering the frame alongside Celtic as potential destinations should Frankfurt soften their stance.

Meanwhile, Celtic’s recruitment plans extend beyond defence, with the club also continuing to monitor developments surrounding Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The 23-year-old has been on Celtic’s radar for several transfer windows and is expected to leave Selhurst Park before the deadline.

Rak-Sakyi enjoyed a productive loan spell at Çaykur Rizespor in the first half of the season, where his pace, directness and attacking output caught the eye. He was recalled by Palace as the Premier League side considered a permanent transfer, but progress on that front appears to have stalled. The Evening Standard now reports that Palace have made the winger available for a loan move, opening the door for interested clubs to make their approach.

In attack, Celtic have already taken steps to address their striker concerns by securing Tomas Čvančara on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Czech forward’s arrival has eased immediate pressure, but the club had been keen to add another option up front before the window closes.

A move for Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba had been explored, but negotiations hit a major stumbling block last week after the Ligue 1 side rejected Celtic’s approach. Any lingering hope of reviving the deal now appears slim following an injury setback for the forward, placing the potential transfer on the brink of collapse.

Lorient head coach Olivier Pantaloni confirmed the issue while speaking to Le Télégramme, explaining:

“Mo suffered a knee injury and received treatment yesterday. He was feeling better, but we preferred to keep him working with the physiotherapist in the gym. At this stage, we don’t have any further information regarding his fitness.”

With the transfer window nearing its conclusion, Celtic remain active on multiple fronts, balancing immediate squad needs with longer-term planning as they assess opportunities across defence, wide areas and attack.