Celtic have been linked for a move for once Rangers-linked KAA Gent and Kenya defender Joseph Okumu.
Cast your mind back to January 2020 and you may remember much talk coming out of Sweden regarding Rangers and a potential move for the then Elfsborg defender.
Reports coming out of Scandinavia claimed that Rangers were considering a move for Joseph Okumu amid Premier League interest in Filip Helander.
Swedish media had linked both Aston Villa and Leicester City to the big Swede and Joseph Okumu – who was also linked to Celtic at the time – was being touted as a replacement.
Some reports were saying Helander – who has suffered extensively from long-term injury lay offs this season – was even being valued at £6m.
But for whatever reason either move never materialised and now-25-year-old Joseph Okumu wound up striking a deal with Belgian Pro League outfit KAA Gent.
Now, after only 18 months on the continent, Joseph Okumu is once again being linked with a move though it’s Celtic and not Rangers who’ve been linked, despite the Ibrox side’s defensive options being up in the air ahead of the new campaign.
One-time Rangers target Joseph Okumu linked with Celtic, Arsenal and Dortmund
Speaking to People Daily in the player’s homeland, one of Okumu’s representatives claimed Celtic are tailing the player this summer, with interest also coming from Premier League Arsenal and Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
“We have had informal interest from English side Arsenal and Scottish giants Celtic, but German side Borussia Dortmund is the first side to make an official inquiry about the central defender who is open to a move if a proper agreement is reached,” say the reps.
“He will be arriving in Kenya today after he had to cut short his holiday in Turkey following his maternal grandmother’s death.
“The grandmother who will be buried in Busia on Saturday was very close to him, so he had to shelve everything to come to give her a proper send-off, then he can think of his future after that.”
Rangers’ remain unsure about the club’s defensive options heading into next season with Ibrox stalwart Connor Goldson yet to sign a new deal.
Leon Balogun is also out of contract whilst injury-plagued Filip Helander is entering the final year of his deal and Calvin Bassey continues to be linked with an exit.
Hearts stopper John Souttar has been signed on a pre-contract deal and will join up with the club after the summer break.
Whilst Joseph Okumu is being linked to Celtic and not Rangers, could the Ibrox side cast their eye to a player currently heading back to the Allsvenskan?