Celtic to appeal to UEFA over John Guidetti loan

CELTIC could not push through the transfer of the one player who arrived at Parkhead on the final day of the transfer window - but managed to sign another player who failed to turn up.

John Guidetti could negotiate his release from Manchester City, allowing him to sign as a free agent. Picture: PA

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell started the day in bitterly disappointed mood after Serbia forward Stefan Scepovic pulled out of a move.

Lawwell then targeted Manchester City striker John Guidetti, who arrived at Celtic Park for talks.

Guidetti, who scored 20 goals in 23 appearances for Feyenoord on loan in 2011-12 before injury derailed his career, remained at Parkhead in the evening but a loan deal for the 22-year-old Swede was not completed before the deadline.

And now the Hoops are set to got to UEFA and claim extenuating circumstances prevented them from lodging the paperwork in time.

One scenario is that the Swedish striker could negotiate his release from Manchester City, which would make him a free agent and thus able to sign for Celtic outwith the transfer window.

Guidetti has spent five years with City, but is yet to make a first-team appearance.

Scepovic U-turn

Scepovic revived his interest in a move to Celtic and signed the contract that had been prepared for him after he passed a medical and secured a work permit in Paris at the weekend as the clock ticked down towards the end of the window.

The 24-year-old, who joined in a £2 million-plus deal from Sporting Gijon, had seen an alternative move to Getafe fall through because of Spanish financial fair play rules.

Celtic did release four strikers with Amido Balde joining Beveren on loan for the season and Teemu Pukki and Holmbert Fridjonsson both moving to Danish side Brondby in similar deals. Bahrudin Atajic, who made four first-team appearances, was released.

Celtic held on to Virgil van Dijk on the day the defender earned his first Holland call-up for a friendly against Italy and a European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic.

But another player leaving Celtic was Dylan McGeouch, who moved to Hibernian on loan until the end of the season but the Easter Road side failed in a bid for Leigh Griffiths.