Celtic sign Jeffrey Schlupp but striker hunt appears fruitless as window closes

Feb 3, 2025 3 min read
Jeffrey Schlupp has joined Celtic (Mike Egerton/PA)
Jeffrey Schlupp has joined Celtic (Mike Egerton/PA)

Celtic announced the loan signing of Crystal Palace utility man Jeffrey Schlupp a minute after the transfer deadline closed but their search for a new striker appeared to go cold.

The 32-year-old left-sided player arrived as cover for Greg Taylor after Alex Valle ended his loan stint and with Arsenal unwilling to let Kieran Tierney return to Glasgow before the summer.

But Celtic fans were left frustrated by the apparent failure to sign a replacement for main centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi, who left for Rennes on January 23 before finalising his transfer seven days before the deadline.

West Ham United manager Graham Potter gives instructions to Danny Ings during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge
Danny Ings was on the bench for West Ham (PA)

Manager Brendan Rodgers had accepted ahead of deadline day that any new forward was likely to be a loan signing and Celtic were linked with West Ham forward Danny Ings before he was named on the bench for the Hammers’ Premier League clash at Chelsea.

Speaking on Sunday, Rodgers said: “My feeling was always once Kyogo was gone, was to have someone else to come in.

“We have to make sure that there’s constant improvement. That’s been clear. I don’t need to fall out with anyone over it.”

Rangers confirmed a pre-contract deal for Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron but there were no immediate incomings at Ibrox.

Scotland Under-21 midfielder Cameron will move to Ibrox in the summer but Dundee declared he would remain a “valuable member” of their squad for the remainder of the season.

It is understood that Rangers were working on several potential deals until deadline day but none could be finalised on favourable terms.

Rangers are believed to have rebuffed offers for key players but agreed a deal for homesick attacker Zak Lovelace to return to Millwall.

Aberdeen brought in 45-times capped Palestine international striker Oday Dabbagh on loan from Belgian club Charleroi, with an option to buy the 26-year-old.

The Dons earlier delivered the William Hill Premiership’s first deadline-day transfer when they brought in 26-year-old Dutch centre-back Mats Knoester on a two-and-a-half-year contract. Fellow defender Angus MacDonald left the Dons.

Hearts signed Partick Thistle left-back Harry Milne for an undisclosed fee and loaned Ethan Drysdale to the Jags as part of the deal. Malachi Boateng left Tynecastle for Plymouth for an undisclosed fee six months after joining.

Motherwell secured their third new goalkeeper of the window. Calum Ward, a 24-year-old former Bournemouth youth player, has arrived from Finnish side AC Oulu after injuries to Aston Oxborough and recent loan signing Archie Mair.

St Johnstone signed 24-year-old attacking midfielder Stephen Duke-McKenna from Harrogate Town until the end of the season.

There were no fresh arrivals at Hibernian, who agreed deals for Luke Amos and Harry McKirdy to tear up their contracts.

St Mirren announced the arrival of 23-year-old former Kilmarnock right-back Ryan Alebiosu on loan from Belgian side KV Kortrijk.

Killie acquired a left-sided defender as they brought in 20-year-old Thomas Wilson-Brown from Leicester on loan.

There were no deadline-day arrivals at Dundee, Ross County or Dundee United.

The biggest news in the Championship came from Falkirk, who brought back 36-year-old former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield after selling Callumn Morrison to Linfield.

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