Southampton set to sign Celtic target Elabdellaoui?

Celtic target Omar Elabdellaoui looks likely to join Southampton in a £6million move from Olympiacos. The Norwegian right-back was on Brendan Rodgers’ short-list for this transfer window as his hunt for a new right back continues through another transfer window with no sign of a conclusion.

The Norwegian international right back declared himself happy to remain in Greece amid reports that Celtic were lining up a £4million bid and Olympiacos countered by suggestion that they valued to player at around double that value, which would effectively rule Celtic out of the bidding.

And if reports are correct, it looks like Southampton’s new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will flex the English Premier League side’s financial muscles to scoop up the player from under Celtic’s nose.

And Elabdellaoui will have to hit the ground running as the Saints are currently sitting near the bottom of the Premier League, just a few points ahead of the the sides in the relegation spots.

Elabdellaoui started out at the Manchester City academy but never played for their first team. He moved to Eintracht Braunschweig in 2013 before heading to Greece. Now it looks like he’s on his way back to England to join up with former Celtic stars Stuart Armstrong and Fraser Forster, although Hasenhuttl has told the big keeper that he is surplus to requirements at St Mary’s, with Leeds United looking likely to make a move.

Celtic remain active in their pursuit of a new right back and hope to get this over the line by the time the window closes tomorrow. Borussia Dortmund’s Jeremy Toljan is the current front-runner and he could come in on loan with an option to buy, an arrangement that worked very well with the Odsonne Edouard transfer from PSG.

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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