Celtic face a battle to sign Aaron Boupendza after Atalanta tabled an £8m bid for the striker. According to Italian media site Tuttomercatoweb, the Serie A side have made an offer to take the attacker to the side that finished 3rd in the Italian top league and thus qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. The 24-year-old’s sensational form in the SuperLiga has resulted in admirers from around Europe.
Celtic reportedly made a £6m bid for Boupendza but this was rebuffed by Hatayspor. The Gabon international striker has netted 22 goals in the Super Lig this season and Turkish outlet Milliyet said Celtic’s first offer was thrown out.
The Parkhead club are looking to mount a sizeable rebuild with Eddie Howe arriving shortly as the next manager. Howe is expected to herald in a new era at the club with new CEO Dominic McKay.
The striking options ahead of next season are slim – Patryk Klimala has already left the club for New York Red Bulls, Leigh Griffiths has a year extension that is yet to be exercised and Albian Ajeti is yet to make a real impact at the club. Odsonne Edouard is likely to depart, with the club to fetch £20m with a reunion with Brendan Rodgers the most likely destination for the Frenchman. It would be hard to begrudge a player of his talent from wanting to play in The Champions League, something poor planning and recruitment from the club have caused.