No secret has been made that Celtic are actively looking for a left winger next season. With Mohamed Elyounoussi reportedly being offered a second chance at Southampton and Mikey Johnston failing (so far) to show full fitness on his return from injuries, there is a gaping gap down the left-hand side that needs to be filled no matter what. Faces old and new have been linked with the role time and time again, but one name linked last year has resurfaced again this year and certainly caught the eye of many watchful readers.
“He hasn’t looked back since, scoring 39 league goals in just 84 league appearances from the wing”
Kristijan Lovric is a 25-year-old winger who continues to catch the eye for HNK Gorica. Undoubtedly the key man of their squad, Lovric has scored 15 goals in just 23 league appearances for the side from the Zagrebian county, taking his side to third place in the process and earning him a standby call-up to replace the isolated Ivan Perisic in the Croatian national team; not a bad figure to replace, given that Perisic was integral to Croatia’s 2018 World Cup Final run – with goals against England, Iceland and even in the final against France.
Kristijan is amongst the top performers and goalscorers in the Croatian League itself, with equally as impressive numbers from last campaign when Celtic were initially linked with him. Having struck 11 goals in 11 games for second-tier Kustosija at the age of just 22, Gorica purchased the midfielder for just £450,000 from nearby Lokomotiva Zagreb in the summer of 2018 – and the right-footed left-winger hasn’t looked back since, scoring 39 league goals in just 84 league appearances for the Turopoljci. However, according to Total Football Analysis, Bologna and Dynamo Kiev are also in for the £5.5mil rated midfielder; which means Celtic should act decisively if they are to get their man.
Having banded around the Croatian leagues for the entirety of his career, it would remain to be seen whether Lovric would accustomise to the Scottish game; although his exceptional scoring records at various clubs over the years should see that one through. Only time will tell if Celtic are willing to part money for what is genuinely an exciting prospect.
We need a left winger badly but we need to build confidence its the spl were in refs have been terrible ti celtic this year was the worst i have seen
So many player so many managers being mentiond, but still no progress , get them in whoever they maybe, give the supporter something to smile about, to be excited again, put the faith back in the club an insttoution to a lol of men ,women, children our future, get it started now please, not wen its too late again