Celtic eyeing Di Santo, would he prove a better signing than £7m deal in the pipeline?

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Celtic have been linked with a move for Franco Di Santo.

Celtic’s reported interest in Schalke striker Franco Di Santo comes as somewhat of a surprise, with Brendan Rodgers boasting Moussa Dembele, Leigh Griffiths and on-loan striker Odsonne Edouard.

But it could be a sign that Rodgers is planning for the future. It could be a sign that Rodgers is fed up of placing his faith in youngsters, and that European experience is needed.

The Daily Mirror (Saturday, 22:18) claim 28-year-old Di Santo, who would have worked with Rodgers for a matter of months when the Argentinian joined Chelsea in 2008, is now interesting Celtic.

It is believed that Rodgers is eyeing a move for the three-time Argentina international in case Moussa Dembele eventually leaves Celtic Park this month, despite failing to score as consistently with just eight goals this time around.

Putting Dembele and Griffiths aside, though, Celtic do need a third striker. Teenage Edouard remains on loan from PSG, but he has failed to impress – scoring only four goals this season, with three coming in a hat-trick against Motherwell.

The Daily Mail claim Celtic have a clause in the Frenchman’s loan to sign him permanently for £7million, in a move that would see Edouard become the club’s most expensive signing.

The record currently stands at £6million, which was invested in Chris Sutton and John Hartson. But currently third choice, Edouard certainly would not be worth the figure even though he is expected to get better.

Instead, with a Europa League knockout campaign on the horizon, Celtic need someone in their peak. Entering his late twenties, Di Santo is certainly that.

He cost Schalke around £5million in 2015 to join from Werder Bremen, and is likely to cost a smaller amount if Celtic are keen after completing a 90 minutes this season just twice in 16 Bundesliga appearances.

Landing a player of Di Santo’s quality, calibre and experience for a fee likely to be smaller than Edouard’s £7million is a shrewd move, with the latter inexperienced and yet to prove why he warrants becoming Celtic’s club-record transfer.