The Celtic manager this afternoon refused to deny interest in signing Rubin Kazan winger Sead Haksabanovic but did not confirm his interest in bringing the 23 year old Montenegro international to the club, despite reports from Russia claiming that the deal has already been done.
These reports also talk up Haksabanovic’s ability to play both as a winger and also as a number 10 and this is an aspect that Ange Postecoglou has referred to in his media conferences over the past few weeks and repeated again today.
Haksabanovic has been training alone in Sweden after a loan spell with Djurgarden and he does not want to return to Kazan. The player has had many options to consider but is reported to be keen on signing for Celtic.
Speaking at today’s Media Conference Ange said: “I think we’ve been linked with a player every time I’ve done one of these. When and if we announce it, we’ll announce it. As I’ve said all along we’re agile, we’re looking for the right person to bring in.
“If that right person is available and we can do a deal, then we’ll do a deal but nothing has really changed on that front.”
And as the clock ticks towards the end of the transfer window at the beginning of September, Ange is also looking at getting game-the elsewhere for various players who aren’t likely to get their opportunity at Celtic this season. While not wanting to talk too much about specific players he’s clearly referring to the likes of Johnston, Ajeti and Jullien.
“Our recruiting this year has been around making our squad better and more robust, compared to last year,” the Celtic manager said. “If you look at the players we’ve brought in, that’s what they’ve added to our squad.
“So it’s not a specific area as such, it’s more if we can get a couple of players who can play a couple of positions it will help us.”
Clearly Sead Haksabanovic fits that criteria, with a guessing game about to begin on the second candidate, if indeed there is one. But on Haksabanovic, there was nothing in today’s Media Conference that will have convinced anyone that the player isn’t a successful medical away from being announced as a Celtic player.
Ange Postecoglou’s Media Conferences are always entertaining and today’s in no exception. Enjoy the latest instalment below…
