BRENDAN RODGERS, the Celtic manager, is preparing for a frantic end to the transfer window as right-back Cristian Gamboa is set to agree a £1million from West Bromwich Albion with more deals set to be done before Wednesday's deadline.
Gamboa, 26, is an attacking defender who was a star for Costa Rica two years ago in the World Cup in Brazil, his country knocked out England in the group stages. He travelled to Glasgow on Monday afternoon for talks and a medical.
Rodgers moved for the player in the wake of Saidy Janko’s horror show in Israel against Hapoel Be’er Sheva. The Swiss has failed to prove himself over the last 12 months and the Celtic manager felt he needed reliable cover at right-back for Mikael Lustig.
It is understood that Rodgers, who will have signed five players once the Gamboa deal is finalised, remains on the look-out for one more quality addition before the window closes and the hope is that he can shift some of his fringe players out on loan.
Everton's Republic of Ireland international James McCarthy remains an option, at least on a season-long loan, and the Celtic manager has funds at his disposal due to the club's upcoming involvement in the Champions League. Stefan Johansen’s £2m move to Fulham was completed on Friday and that money is now available to Rodgers on top of the funds which were already there.
Gamboa, a £2m signing from Rosenborg in 2014, was unable to get into the West Brom team since Tony Pulis became manager at the club in January last year. He made only three first-team appearances in the previous campaign.
Moussa Dembele, Kolo Toure, Scott Sinclair and Dorus de Vries have been added since July and while a sixth signing could still happen, Rodgers also wants to reduce his squad by either selling or loaning out players who are not going to get much of a look-in this season.
Efe Ambrose is almost certain to be sold, with Reading a possible destination for the luckless defender, while Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong, Nadir Ciftci, Kris Commons, who is still injured and Liam Henderson are among those who could be moved on.
None of these players were involved even on the bench for Saturday’s win over Aberdeen and it is unlikely any of them will feature much over the coming months for a variety of reasons, even Commons when he is fit again.
Ross County remain interested in Mackay-Steven on a loan deal, while a return to Hibernian for a season could be on the cards for Henderson, although the midfielder has caught the eye of Rodgers.
"The squad is still too big,” admitted the Celtic manager at the weekend. “The problem we have is lots of players are really enjoying it, there's a real high level in training and the intensity is good.
“We can see the other players getting fitter and stronger but unfortunately it's the players who know they are getting limited game and it will be their decision over the coming days.”
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