Talks ongoing between Celtic and Oshaniwa

Ronnie Cully

Senior Sports Writer

Friday 11 January 2013

Juwon Oshaniwa last night claimed discussions were ongoing over a proposed move to Celtic.

The Celtic squad will be joined by two new faces in Marbella

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Ronnie Cully

The defender had been linked with a move to Glasgow earlier this month and talks are already thought to have taken place between Celtic and his current club Ashdod.

The Nigerian international – who is represented by Dudu Dahan, the agent responsible for taking Efe Ambrose and Rami Gershon to Parkhead – only joined the Israeli side on a four-year deal in September but is open to a move to Celtic. He is currently with his national side ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations but told media in his homeland that a switch to Celtic this month remains a possibility.

"There are still ongoing talks on the move for me to go to Scotland," Oshaniwa said. "Once they are one, then everybody will have a clearer picture. It is God that has the final say, but they are already talking with my club president. It was because of my preparation with [Nigeria] that did not allow me to go to Scotland to do some of the things that I am required to do."It is understood that reports linking Celtic with a move for Konstantinos Mitroglou, the Olympiakos striker, are wide of the mark but a player of more immediate concern is Tom Rogic, who last night arrived at the club's training camp in the Costa Del Sol in an attempt earn a move from Central Coast Mariners during a six-day trial.Celtic hoped to include the 20-year-old attacking midfield player in Tuesday's friendly against Steaua Bucharest in Marbella as part of the assessment but permission has not been forthcoming from Mariners, who have him under contract until May. Nevertheless, the Australian may still impress sufficiently in training.Initially, it was suggested Rogic – who has earned four caps for Australia – would be a summer signing target if Neil Lennon was suitably impressed. But, having since discovered that Reading had agreed a £400,000 fee with Mariners for Rogic, Celtic are prepared to make their move now. "There is no point in having him here if we can't sign him right now," said Johan Mjallby, the Celtic assistant manager who was running the training camp until Lennon arrived in Spain late last night. "If he's good enough, why not go for it straight away? "I don't know the figures or his contract situation but, hopefully, he could be a gem for us. I've heard very good reports and the sooner we see him, the better. He's a creative midfielder and the Australian boys are always very fit. He can open up defences with his style."Gershon has already convinced Mjallby of his quality as Celtic had been tracking the Standard Liege defender for several months. He arrived at the training camp last night to begin his six-month loan deal, with his first task to show he is fit to face Steaua. "He is good cover," said Mjallby. "It's a good chance for him to prove himself."

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Talks ongoing between Celtic and Oshaniwa

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