Are Celtic being priced out of Richmond Boakye race with Everton now in frame?

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Premier League quartet Chelsea, Swansea, Crystal Palace and Everton all scouting Richmond Boakye – meaning Celtic could be left by the wayside.

Celtic will have to push the boat out if they want to bring Richmond Boakye to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

According to GhanaSoccerNet, Serbian Super Liga giants Red Star Belgrade are desperate to hang onto their prized asset and have put a £10 million price tag on his head. This, therefore, would make Boakye the most expensive player in Celtic’s history – exceeding the £6 million they spent on Chris Sutton and John Hartson all the way back at the start of the century.

Although Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers indicated that the Scottish champions would have been willing to break their transfer record over the summer, per the Daily Record, the club’s ambition may be tested in the winter window.

After all, with interest in Boakye intensifying following his prolific start to the season, it would be little surprise if Red Star demand more than £10 million come January.

Man in demand

According to the Mail, Premier League Champions Chelsea, as well as strugglers Crystal Palace and Swansea City, are all on the trail of a striker who has scored 31 goals in 2017 alone.

And Hot Sport reported on Monday that Everton, who spent £140 million this summer and still have money in the bank following the sale of Romelu Lukaku, are the latest club to watch the Ghanaian in action.

Needless to say, this Premier League quartet all have far more money to spend than Celtic due to the TV revenue on offer in England. The financial gulf has grown in recent years, leaving Scotland chocking on the Premier League’s dust.

The fact that Celtic have not broken their transfer record in 16 years speaks volumes. Therefore, signing Boakye would be easier said than done.