Celtic face huge stumbling block in Philip Otele chase as player wants Premier League move | OneFootball

Celtic were hoping to lure Basel winger Philip Otele to the Scottish Premiership this winter, but they may have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.

According to BBC, the 26-year-old forward wants to move to the Premier League, with Wolverhampton Wanderers now leading the race.

The Scottish champions are still interested, but the growing pull of English football is shaping the race for the Nigerian attacker and putting Celtic on the back foot.

Otele has built an impressive career across Europe and is now increasingly sought-after on the market.

He has scored 17 goals and provided seven assists in 51 games since joining Basel.

He played a crucial role in returning Basel to the pinnacle of Swiss football, notching nine goals and four assists in 18 league games as they raced to the title.

Otele’s performances for Basel haven’t gone under the radar, with clubs now keen to snap him up.

Wolves are exploring the possibility of signing him on an initial loan deal with an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer.

Basel value the Nigerian winger at £7 million, but Wolves are hoping to generate funds through player sales, which is holding up the proposed move.

Celtic are waiting in the wings and keeping a close eye on the situation, but Otele is determined to test himself in the Premier League even though Wolves are all but certain to be relegated.

Even if Wolves pull out of the deal, Celtic still have to battle the likes of Lazio, Bournemouth, and Birmingham City, who are also monitoring the situation.

The Bhoys have been hit hard by injury, particularly in the attacking third. Jota has been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Callum Osmand are also sidelined for months.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha has failed to deliver since his summer move, and Sebastian Tounekti’s decision-making and end product have been subpar.

Celtic are also in the market for a striker and have even enquired about West Ham United’s Callum Wilson, but they’re also exploring options to sort out their issues on the flanks.