Celtic left it late to finally make their only signing of the January window as they announced the loan capture of Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny.
The Toffees right-back – who has made 48 first-team appearances for the Goodison outfit – comes in as a short-term replacement for Jeremie Frimpong, who left for Bayer Leverkusen last week.
The deal was announced just just two-and-a-half hours before the deadline but it is better late than never for the Parkhead support, who have been crying out for fresh recruits to help out Neil Lennon’s struggling outfit.
🆕✍️ 𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒉𝒐𝒚 🍀 Welcome to #CelticFC, Jonjoe Kenny! 🟢⚪️#WelcomeJonjoe — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 1, 2021
Lennon – speaking earlier on Monday – said: “He’s a player I have liked for a while. He is at Everton obviously and had a very good career at England Under-21 level and I watched quite a bit of him last season when he was on loan at Schalke.
“I like his qualities, his enthusiasm for the game, his character, and I think he will bring that to the team. He is a bubbly sort of personality and he plays that way as well.”
Celtic had hoped to complete a pre-contract deal for centre-back Ben Davies but were beaten to his signature by English champions Liverpool, who have now signed the 25-year-old from Preston.
“It’s a blow because we were very close to doing that and obviously we got gazumped at the last minute by Liverpool,” Lennon said.
“(We’re) disappointed but we move on. It’s not the first time it’s happened to us or myself as a manager.”
Lennon is understood to have rejected loan offers for defender Stephen Welsh and confirmed Celtic were looking at other centre-back options, while French midfielder Olivier Ntcham has completed a long-expected loan move back to his homeland after joining Marseille for the remainder of the campaign.
“I think he is looking for a fresh start, or to progress his career elsewhere, and he has made that clear over a long period of time,” Lennon said.
Scott Wright and Jack Simpson are both set to complete immediate moves to Rangers.
Both players agreed pre-contracts last week but Wright will sign a four-and-a-half-year deal before the deadline after Rangers agreed to give Aberdeen a £150,000 discount on Ross McCrorie, the PA news agency understands.
Scott Wright set to sign 4.5 year deal with Rangers, who have given Aberdeen a £150k discount on Ross McCrorie to allow his loan to be made permanent right away. Brandon Barker on his way to Oxford on loan — Andy Newport (@AndyNewportPA9) February 1, 2021
Gers agreed to slash the £350,000 fee they had agreed with Pittodrie bosses to make loan player McCrorie’s Dons move permanent in the summer and the Scotland Under-21 captain will now become an Aberdeen player outright.
Rangers have decided to push ahead with the Wright deal after allowing Brandon Barker join Oxford on loan.
Simpson has arrived in Glasgow with George Edmundson on his way to Derby on loan.
Aberdeen acted swiftly to beef up their striking options after Curtis Main was released just a day after Sam Cosgrove’s £2million move to Birmingham by bringing in three replacements.
Scotland Under-21 and Reims striker Fraser Hornby, former Hibernian and Rangers striker Florian Kamberi – who has been playing for St Gallen this season – and St Johnstone’s Callum Hendry all arrived before the midnight deadline after agreeing six-month loan switches to Pittodrie.
Youngster Bruce Anderson has been allowed to move to Hamilton on loan for the remainder of the campaign, while Accies have released striker Tunde Owolabi and midfielder Justin Johnson.
Both Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous are staying with Hibs following interest from Birmingham and Millwall respectively, with the striker reportedly handing in a transfer request before Blues gave up on their pursuit.
Hibs have allowed two players to leave on loan – Stevie Mallan to Turkish Super Lig side Malatyaspor and Jamie Gullan to Raith Rovers.
Managerless Kilmarnock made a late double loan swoop, securing Arsenal defender Zech Medley and Crystal Palace forward Brandon Pierrick on six-month deals.
The 🦅 has landed Welcome to Killie, Brandon Pierrick — Kilmarnock FC (@KilmarnockFC) February 1, 2021
Livingston are close to signing a player on loan, while Motherwell wrapped up a couple of deadline day loan deals.
Fir Park boss Graham Alexander signed Hearts wideman Jordan Roberts and Irish defender Eddie Nolan from Crewe Alexandra for the rest of the campaign having also made midfielder Robbie Crawford’s loan switch from Livi permanent with a contract until the end of the season.
St Johnstone signed 21-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Charlie Gilmour until the end of the season.
Dundee United defender Lewis Neilson has been linked with Leicester, while St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin is looking for one more signing.
Ross County boss John Hughes did not expect any more deals following Ross Stewart’s departure to Sunderland on Sunday.
