Scottish Premiership champions Celtic watched Jonathas during an impressive spell at Elche in La Liga – according to the striker himself.
Jonathas made his name at Elche
The list of strikers signed by Celtic in recent seasons doesn’t make pleasant reading. While Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele have been an unprecedented success, it’s fair to say the likes of Colin Kazim-Richards, Amido Balde, Carlton Cole and Teemu Pukki didn’t make the impact the club hoped for.
And who knows whether Jonathas would have been a hit or a miss at Parkhead. The powerful Brazilian frontman was a forward in demand after netting 12 La Liga goals for Eibar in 2014/15 and he admitted that the Glasgow giants had made their interest known.
“I know Celtic have sent their people to watch me this year. That is a big honour,” Jonathas, then valued at £4 million by parent club Pescara, said in quotes reported by the Daily Record.
“I know all about Celtic, how big they are in Europe, how respected they are and about their fans.”
In the two years since, however, Jonathas’ career has plateaued somewhat. Despite reported interest from Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, the former Brazilian Under-19 international signed a five-year deal with Real Sociedad weeks after admitting Celtic’s interest.
However, after just seven goals in a disappointing debut season, he departed for Russia with Rubin Kazan.
And, twelve months on, he may be on the move again. Finishing a disappointing ninth in the Russian league despite spending big on the likes of Alex Song and Ruben Rochina, Rubin sacked head coach Javi Gracia – the former Malaga boss taking Jonathas with him to Kazan after catching his eye in Spain.
Former West Ham midfielder Alex Song
And he could be an excellent option for Celtic with Brendan Rodgers looking for attacking reinforcements. Celtic have already missed out on Dominic Solanke, after all, with Henry Onyekuru also slipping through their grasp.
Therefore, this may be the perfect time for Celtic to bring the aggressive, Diego Costa-esque Jonathas to Glasgow. The rough and tumble of the Scottish game won’t faze him, that’s for sure.
Jonathas’ all-action style has drawn comparisons with Chelsea’s Diego Costa
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