Celtic may need to pay £6 million to sign Sporting Lisbon misfit Valentin Rosier and, according to Calciomercato, the Scottish Premiership giants face a battle with Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio for his signature.
When asked about his future recently, the rampaging right-back made his stance clear.
If Rosier was denied the chance to seal a permanent move to Besiktas following an impressive loan spell in the Turkish capital, he wanted to join a club due to play Champions League football next season.
So, be warned Celtic.
Lose to Midtjylland in the Champions League qualifier in July and your hopes of signing the talented full-back could go up in smoke.
Can Celtic beat Lazio to Rosier signing?
Then again, Rosier isn’t exactly overloaded with offers from clubs seated at Europe’s top table.
Calciomercato reports the 24-year-old Frenchman is attracting interest from Jorge Sampaoli’s Marseille, not to mention a Lazio side that recently hired former Juventus and Chelsea boss Sarri as Simone Inzaghi’s replacement.
However, Marseille and Lazio will be plying their trade in the Europa League instead when 2021/22 rolls around.
So if Rosier is determined to prove himself against the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, he may be better off staying put and fighting for his place in Portugal.
By winning the Primeira Liga title for the first time since 2002, Sporting Lisbon have sealed automatic qualification to the Champions League group stages.
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely at this stage Rosier will be offered an opportunity at a club he has represented just nine times since arriving from Dijon two years ago.
Sporting farmed Rosier out to Turkey last summer.
And, despite producing three goals and seven assists for a double-winning Besiktas side, the Lions will cash in if they receive a bid in the region of £6 million.
Rosier would fill a Jeremie Frimpong-shaped hole on the right side of Celtic’s defence while providing cover on the left. Whether the Hoops are willing to pay £6 million for one player, however, is another matter entirely.
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