Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha not ruling out potential Celtic summer transfer | OneFootball

Royal Antwerp striker Michel-Ange Balikwisha has revealed that Celtic wanted to sign him during the January transfer window.

However, the Belgian was not keen on joining the Parkhead club injured, but he has left the door open for a potential summer move to the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers wanted Balikwisha last summer, but the move did not materialise as a serious muscle injury sidelined him for several months.

The Hoops remained interested in recruiting his services, returning for the £5 million-rated forward ahead of the January window.

Balikwisha was on the sidelines until last December due to the injury which saw Celtic pull out of a summer deal, and he picked up a muscle injury on his return to action against Royal Charleroi SC.

The 23-year-old finally returned to action at the weekend and has now opened up on the interest from the Bhoys.

“Celtic’s interest was concrete, but I chose to stay,” Balikwisha told Belgian outlet Gazet van Antwerpen.

“Leaving with an injury was not ideal for me. I would rather take good care of myself so I could be ready for the play-offs.

“We will see in the summer transfer window.”

Celtic were in talks with his representatives last July before the deal was called off, and they could return in the next summer transfer window.

Balikwisha has less than 18 months left of his contract at the Belgian top-flight club, and selling him in the coming months could be the best time for them to cash in.

The Hoops would be monitoring his situation as AS Roma were also keen last summer, and Rodgers could do with such a player in his attack.

He could be available for less than £5m in the summer as he would have just a year remaining on his contract, and it could be a good time for Celtic to swoop.