M’Baye Niang is ready to snub a potential summer transfer to Celtic in order to join Serie A outfit Venezia from Stade Rennes, according to TuttoMercatoWEB.
Rennes are still waiting to receive an official bid for Niang, but negotiations with Venezia are advancing promisingly. The two parties met for talks in Tuscany on Wednesday, and it is not impossible the striker will fly to Venice in the next few hours to seal a move from Ligue 1.
Niang views Venezia as his preferred destination away from Rennes after warming to life at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium. Paolo Zanetti’s side are aware of fierce competition from the United Kingdom, though, with Celtic a rumoured option.
Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Belgian side Anderlecht have sought information on Niang’s situation at Rennes, Foot Mercato report. Nantes also want the 26-year-old, but he has no interest in moving to the Beaujoire Stadium.
Instead, TuttoMercatoWEB believe Niang is willing to find an agreement with Venezia over a return to Italy. The Lagunari are also about to make Rennes an offer to, seemingly, beat Celtic to the £50,000-per-week striker’s signature.
The Senegal international has played 107 career games in the Serie A between spells at AC Milan, Genoa and Torino. He scored 17 times and offered 13 assists over those outings, never eclipsing five goals in a single season. He also only netted once for Rennes last term.
Celtic to miss out on Niang deal with Rennes striker set for Venezia
All indications point to Celtic missing out on a deal to sign Niang with the Rennes striker set for Venezia. But that may not be the end of the world for Ange Postecoglou, given the 15-cap forward’s underwhelming record.
Niang started just four of his nine Ligue 1 appearances, scoring once, last season before joining Al-Ahli Jeddah on loan. He flopped hard in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, too, with zero goals in five league outings. Managers also omitted him from eight of 13 possible squads.
Niang’s Saudi adventure capped a disappointing season, after scoring 10 and 11 goals in the previous two Ligue 1 campaigns. His 2018/19 haul of 11 was also a career-best that he almost matched, only to fall off the boil again.
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