Celtic make Bright Osayi-Samuel January ‘priority’

Celtic have made Queens Park Rangers star Bright Osayi-Samuel their ‘priority’ target ahead of the upcoming January window.

That’s according to the Daily Mail, cited by the Daily Record, who claim that Neil Lennon is keen to get an immediate deal over the line next month.

The report also adds that Club Brugge, Crystal Palace and Rangers are also admirers of the 22-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

Celtic chief scout Gary Penrice knows Osayi-Samuel extremely well. Penrice helped bring Osayi-Samuel to QPR from Blackpool back in 2017 during his time working for the Championship side. [West London Sport]

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To us, a deal for Osayi-Samuel in January would be a welcome addition, especially with James Forrest’s injury issues keeping him out for the foreseeable future.

Forrest hasn’t featured since September, with Lennon confirming the player has come off crutches but is unlikely to be seen on the pitch before the end of January.

Celtic can strike a pre-contract agreement with Osayi-Samuel in the New Year ahead of a free transfer at the end of the season. However, it appears as if the club are looking to secure an immediate deal for the tricky winger.

The club will have to put their hand in their pocket for an immediate deal, but to us, that decision could prove a smart one. It may help the club claw back the deficit on Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership, should a January transfer get over the line.