Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano has updated that FC Basel are keen on signing Djordje Jovanović from Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Serbian striker has an impressive record from last season in Israel, netting twenty two times; however, this move will have an impact on Celtic.
Understand FC Basel are set to sign Djordje Jovanović from Maccabi Tel Aviv with medical tests on Wednesday 🇨🇭
The Serbian forward scored 22 goals in 43 goals last season. pic.twitter.com/47qkg6ey6Y
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 15, 2023
Celtic had been hoping that the Swiss club would be a possible destination for Albian Ajeti. The Herald reported earlier this month that they were considering a move but the wages currently paid to the Swiss forward were perceived as being too expensive.
The 26-year-old has a year remaining on his deal with the Scottish Champions but it appears that his time in Glasgow is expected to come to an end with Celtic unlikely to recoup any of the £4.5m outlay paid to West Ham in 2020.
Ajeti is said to be happy to run down his contract rather than agreeing an early settlement with Celtic. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will likely want to redistribute the wages by clearing Ajeti out. The decision by the Irishman not to include the forward in pre-season camps over in Portugal and Japan was telling. Ajeti showed promise under Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou, albeit briefly, and it’s likely that John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan have warned the manager against attempting to bring the player in from the cold.
Vasilis Barkas decided with the club to simply rip up his contract, which allowed him to re-sign for Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Ajeti will, for the time being, remain as a Celtic player as the club look to move him on this window.
Meanwhile, check out Matt Corr speaking to the one and only Martin O’Neill on The Celtic Star Podcast…
Player has every right to run contract down id say he might be on top end of wages as soon as i seen him in the hoops you could see he was not fit good thing about the hoops if your carrying any weight it shows it
Legally he has the right, but he’s been stealing wages for three years why steal another year if
Celtic are willing to let him go for free. I’m sure he would find another club and get on with his
career Celtic owe this guy nothing now
Another of Peter Lawwell’s dud buys along with Barkas yet he missed out on McGinn (amongst others) for the sake of an extra £250K. Cost us the10IAR with his arrogant complacemcy & incompetent meddling. Presume and hope Rodgers has had assurances from Desmond in that regard.
Another of Peter Lawwell’s dud buys along with Barkas yet he missed out on McGinn (amongst others) for the sake of an extra £250K. Cost us the10IAR with his arrogant complacemcy & incompetent meddling. Presume and hope Rodgers has had assurances from Desmond in that regard.this time around.