BOLINGOLI’S NEW JOLLY
continent’s game with his new club.
The 25-year-old moved to Scotland just over a year ago from Rapid Vienna but his on-pitch stock slipped badly even before his scandalous breach of Covid-19 rules basically put an end to his Hoops career.
Bolingoli was publicly hammered by manager Neil Lennon and severely reprimanded by club hierarchy after making an undisclosed one-night trip to Spain and failing to declare it or self-isolate upon return, against virus protocols.
The player’s appearance in a subsequent encounter with Kilmarnock sparked outrage in and out of the game – and his actions led to Celtic’s matches against St Mirren and Aberdeen being immediately postponed.
Bolingoli was also hit with a five-game suspension by the SFA.
But after going to a country which was on the Covid-19 travel quarantine list to incur the wrath of his team-mates and employers, the defender is now ready to relaunch his career with the Turkish champions in a nation currently free of such restrictions.
With the Belgian now gone, Lennon is set to step up his search for cover on the left-hand side with Jonny Hayes having already departed the club in the summer to rejoin Aberdeen.
Greg Taylor is now the only recognised senior defender in his area of the pitch and Charlton youngster Alfie Doughty is among a host of names on the radar.
The situation of Preston’s left-sided defender Ben Davies is also understood to be under surveillance from Celtic but he is also the subject of interest from Bournemouth.
Sources south of the border have indicated that North End chiefs have rejected an initial offer of £5million from the Cherries for the 25-year-old, who has just one year left on his contract at Deepdale.
Davies is also capable of operating at centreback and could also be an option if Celtic receive a huge bid for Kristoffer Ajer, who is being watched by clubs in England and Europe.
Transfer target Doughty netted at the weekend for Charlton.
Record Sport revealed earlier this month Celtic were interested in the Addicks midfielder, who kickstarted his season with a fine goal in Charlton’s 2-0 victory at Crewe.