Market movement and Celtic monitoring
Standard Liege have reportedly intensified their pursuit of Mory Gbane. They launched formal transfer discussions with his current club, Stade de Reims. The Ivorian midfielder has also drawn interest from Celtic. The Scottish champions are still assessing the situation. Reims seek to offload players after being relegated to Ligue 2. They failed to return to the top division immediately.
Gbane's potential role at Celtic
Gbane’s towering height of 6ft 2in gives him the physicality to play a key role. He could do so as a defensive midfielder under Celtic manager Martin O'Neill. Right now, the Celtic squad lacks a player of his calibre in that position. His experience in various European leagues could provide valuable depth for the club. This could help if they look to reinforce their lineup ahead of the January transfer window.
Reims' wage bill challenge and Gbane's recent history
Stade de Reims are actively looking to reduce their wage bill following their relegation and subsequent failed promotion attempt. Gbane, who joined the French club for about £4.4 million in February 2025, started in more than half of their league matches. However, his efforts were not enough to lead the team back to Ligue 1.
Prior to moving to Reims, Gbane spent time playing in several countries, including Croatia, Russia, and Portugal, where his strong performances earned him a move to France. Last summer, he made his senior debut for the Ivory Coast national team, but he narrowly missed out on being selected for the World Cup squad.