REPORTS IN CROATIA have claimed that Celtic are having conversations with Hajduk Split about the signing of David Colina, the 20-year-old left-back. According to Croatian publication Index, Scottish Champions are said to have opened discussions with the Croatian club about bringing the ex-Monaco kid to Paradise.
Colina switched Zagreb for Monaco’s U19s in 2018 before a move back to the Adriatic coast just a year later – where he has made his name.
Below is Google Translate’s take on the article which certainly makes interesting reading for Celtic fans.
“It was announced YESTERDAY that the Scottish giant Celtic is interested in bringing in David Colina, the 20-year-old left-back of Hajduk and one of the best players in the league in that position.
“There is no official offer yet, but the amount of three million euros was reached in an oral conversation. The people of Split allegedly want to earn even more money in this combination.
“This is what the situation looked like, where the story remained yesterday, and today we find out the exact amount that Hajduk is asking Celtic to agree to sell Colin.
“The amount that Hajduk is asking for is twice as much as Celtic’s offer. As we find out, this is the amount of six million euros, which is twice as much as what Celtic offered orally. Let us remind you, Hajduk bought Čolina from Monaco for 700 thousand euros, so in the case of a transfer, they would certainly earn many times at a great defender.
“Colina passed all the young national teams, and from the Dinamo school he went to Monaco, from where Hajduk bought him in the summer of 2019. He played 23 games for Hajduk this season and has one assist.”
The transfer of Colina would almost certainly mean the end of Bolingoli’s Celtic career with Greg Taylor firmly in the starting XI. The Belgian has struggled to make his way into the team since the turn of the year and now could be set for a move away as Celtic eye his replacement.
The club have previously signed Jozo Simunovic from the Balkans and it appears to be an untapped area for stars to develop. Should a move transpire, it would be an interesting transfer as Split would like a deal to value up to 6m in add-ons, something that Celtic would be unlikely to commit to for a player that would play as a deputy.
