The agent of NK Maribor striker Zan Vipotnik appears to have confirmed Celtic’s interest with the Slovakia international valued at around £3.5 million.
Whisper it, but Oh Hyeon-Gyu is really starting to make his mark under Ange Postecoglou.
A pair of predatory finishes during Saturday’s 5-0 hammering of Aberdeen – the Hoops getting their mitts on ol’ familiar once again at full time after securing another Scottish Premiership title – took the January signing’s tally to four goals in his last five appearances.
Reports linking Celtic with another centre-forward to join the ever-improving Oh and the prolific Kyogo Furuhashi, then, should have the rest of the Premiership quaking in their sponsored footwear.
Is Zan Vipotnik going to be Celtic’s next striker?
According to Football Scotland, Celtic have made Vipotnik’s camp aware of their interest ahead of the the summer window.
Strong and physical at 6ft 1ins and a ruthless finisher off both feet; Vipotnik’s personal catalogue contains a few stunners as well as the typical tap-ins. The 21-year-old Slovakian has 23 goals in 38 games this term for NK Maribor, with agent Sasa Zupan admitting to Football Scotland that there is indeed ‘interest’ from the green half of Glasgow.
“Yes, there is interest from Celtic for a summer transfer,” Zupan explains. “But there a lot of clubs who want to sign Zan when the window opens.”
Vipotnik is valued in the region of £3.5 million.
Options aplenty
The twice-capped frontman would potentially fill a Giorgios Giakoumakis-shaped hole in Postecoglou’s frontline. Celtic have also been linked with the likes of Levi Garcia, Fotis Ioannidis, Eduvie Ikoba and Anastosios ‘Tasos’ Douvikas in recent weeks with a new striker seemingly high on the manager’s wishlist.
Celtic may face a Old Firm battle for Douvikas, however; TEAMtalk stating that Rangers are showing serious interest in a man who finished joint-first in the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot race after notching 19 times in the colours of FC Utrecht.
“It is always a double-edged sword,” Utrecht director Jordy Zuidam tells ESPN. “Of course, you want to keep the player for longer. But we also know that we need sales.
“That is part of healthy business. We have to sell for at least twelve million euros every year, just like next season.
“The value of a player is difficult to estimate, but we really want to keep him,” Zuidam adds. “If he leaves, it will definitely be for a top prize.”
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