Celtic were at the centre of a strange transfer story in the Spanish media this week, where it was claimed that the club had forced Sporting Lisbon’s hand in announcing a transfer deal earlier than they had planned…
Celtic interest triggers transfer clause
The particulars of that deal involved Georgian midfielder, Giorgi Kochorashvili, who had been the subject of an approach from the Scottish Champions.
It is claimed that Sporting had already agreed a deal in principle with Kocharshvili’s club Levante, which had been thought to be at a cheaper price, with the condition that if another club made an approach for the player, the Portuguese outfit would have to up the transfer fee to an initial €5.5 million (£4.6 million), with the potential for it to rise another €2 million (£1.7 million) in add-ons.
Unbeknown to Celtic
Unbeknown to Celtic, the report from Super Deporte states that the Scottish Champions made a pitch for the Georgian and in the process, triggered the Lisbon side to conclude the deal at a much higher price than they had initially planned. The defensive midfielder had attracted the interest of Brendan Rodgers and the Hoops recruitment team but appears to have been beaten to the La Liga based star with a deal that had been long in the works. The report roughly translates as follows:
“Glasgow Celtic made a proposal over the weekend. And added, as they feel from the club, to the state of alert in which Sporting de Portugal entered after Danvila’s statements in Sin Tregua, where he assured that Giorgi Kochorashvili was not for sale, an operation that was signed throughout Monday was precipitated.”
Celtic clearly looking for a ball winning midfielder
It now looks like other targets will have to be pursued for that number six role in the central area of the pitch. The team has been starved of a ball-winning midfielder for too long and have struggled at times when the game plan or personnel needs to be changed up on certain occasions.
Maybe it will be Arne Engels mate Elvis Rexhbecaj
No doubt Brendan Rodgers will have other names in mind and have recently been linked with a move for Arne Engels’ former teammate Elvis Rexhbecaj, although it remains to be seen if that one has substance.
Paul Gillespie
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