Celtic face an even tougher challenge than was expected for Ardon Jashari with Serie A outfit Atalanta and Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig also keen on the Switzerland international.
That is according to Blick; the Swiss publication who have been at the forefront of rumours surrounding Ardon Jashari’s future over the last few months.
Captain of FC Luzern at the age of just 20; the midfielder’s maturity and mindset – as well as his obvious footballing talents – have reportedly caught the eye of clubs from all across the continent. From Arsenal to Leeds, from Celtic to Porto, from Atalanta to Leipzig.
As things stand, we are no closer to finding out what Jashari’s destination will be.
Celtic, according to Blick, were reportedly leading the chase last week; Luzern’s £4.5 million asking price unlikely to have Ange Postecoglou’s Premiership champions running for the hills. Porto have held talks, though they are not yet at an advanced stage.
But keep an eye out for further offers from Italy and Germany. Blick believe that, if Jashari does leave FC Luzern before September 1st, he is likely to move abroad rather than join a direct Swiss Super League rival with clubs from just across the border showing an interest of their own.
Will Celtic win the race to sign Ardon Jashari from FC Luzern?
Atalanta’s remarkable track record when it comes to turning little-known prospects into elite-level talents – see Papu Gomez, Franck Kessie Cristian Romero – is bordering on the legendary. Leipzig, meanwhile, have quite the reputation too in the ‘talent development’ stakes. Marco Rose’s side also confirmed Champions League qualification with an outstanding 3-1 comeback victory away from home at Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Jashari, all-action and box-to-box, is exactly the sort of young, energetic, high-octane midfielder who tends to thrive in a taurine-powered Red Bull system.
“Jashari has a personality that qualifies him as a leader. You rarely see that at this age,” Swiss talent scout Olivier Zesiger tells Luzerner Zeitung.
“Physically, (Swiss team-mate) Granit Xhaka is stronger. (But) both players can move the ball in progression. In addition, the two are good at reading a game and winning the ball back.
“If things continue, then he’ll definitely end up at a club in one of the top five leagues (in Europe).”
At Celtic, Jashari could potentially be viewed as a competitor – and potential long-term replacement – for Callum McGregor.
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