AGENT SAYS CELTIC WANT £3.5M STRIKER BUT NOW FACE BATTLE WITH SPANISH GIANTS

Celtic face competition from the likes of Europa League winners Sevilla and Dutch champions Feyenoord in the race to sign NK Maribor striker Zan Vipotnik this summer.

And in what may be a further blow to Celtic’s hopes, the 21-year-old Slovenia international is reportedly ‘dreaming’ of a move to the Germany. Celtic can probably afford to be confident of fighting off competition from Hertha Berlin and Hamburg – both of whom will be second-tier sides in 2023/24 – but FC Augsburg could be an altogether tougher challenge.

Celtic like NK Maribor striker Zan Vipotnik

Sky add that Vipotnik – who shot to fame with 23 goals in all competitions last term – has clubs even further afield fluttering their eyelashes in his direction too. Lecce and Empoli of Italy’s Serie A for example. Belgian giants Club Brugge too.

There is also Sevilla and Feyenoord. Two teams who, like Celtic, can offer Vipotnik the chance to make his name on the Champions League stage. Sevilla earned a seat at the top table by beating Jose Mourinho’s Roma in a tetchy Europa League final. Arne Slot, meanwhile, guided Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since Dirk Kuyt lifted the trophy back in 2017.

Vipotnik finished behind only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in Europe’s ‘Expected Goals per 90 minutes’ rankings. He is instinctive, lethal, and a potentially inspired replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi should Celtic’s top scorer, as some have suggested, follow Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham Hotspur.

“Yes, there is interest from Celtic for a summer transfer,” Vipotnik’s agent, Sasa Zupan, tells Football Scotland. “But there a lot of clubs who want to sign Zan when the window opens.”

Vipotnik is valued in the region of £3.5 million, Celtic making their interest known with the player’s camp.

The Premiership champions have also been linked with the likes of Levi Garcia, Fotis Ioannidis and Eduvie Ikoba. Anastosios ‘Tasos’ Douvikas, the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot winner too.