Celtic reach verbal agreement to sign Jeffrey Schlupp | OneFootball

Celtic are edging closer to signing Crystal Palace defender Jeffrey Schlupp in the closing stages of the January transfer window.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Brendan Rodgers will be able to bolster his squad in the final few hours of the transfer window after Celtic have reached a verbal agreement to sign Schlupp from Palace.

Romano says that Celtic have a deal in place to sign the 32-year-old on loan for the rest of the season. The Bhoys will not have any buy option.

Schlupp is a vastly experienced player who has played a lot of games for both Leicester City and Crystal Palace. He joined Palace in the January window of 2017 and has made over 245 appearances for the club.

He has a wealth of experience and won the Premier League title with Leicester in 2015-16. The former Ghana international is a versatile player who can play as a left-back, left wing-back, central midfielder, left winger and forward.

He has scored 40 goals in his career. Schlupp has only a few months left on his current contract at Selhurst Park and will be a free agent in the summer.

Romano wrote on X: “Jeff Schlupp from Palace to Celtic, here we go! Verbal agreement done on straight loan, no buy option. Deal in place.”

This season, Schlupp has managed only 173 minutes of action across all competitions. He has clearly dropped down the pecking order, although injuries did hamper his regular participation in the first team this season.

Celtic badly needed to sign a left-back as they are left with Greg Taylor as the only option.

The Bhoys have agreed a pre-contract deal with Kieran Tierney, but he will join next summer. They need a cover now after Barcelona terminated Alex Valle’s loan deal.

With only a few hours left before the deadline, Celtic needs to hurry up.