Just a day after Tom Rogic was ruled out, Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are reportedly interested in Rijeka midfielder Filip Bradaric.
On his day, there are few better players in Scotland than Tom Rogic.
The Australian midfielder can turn a game on its head with a moment of sheer class, a perfectly weighted pass or a well-placed shot. So with Rogic set to be out of action until March, it is difficult to suggest that this is anything other than a major blow to the Scottish champions.
But does this explain the sudden links with Rijeka’s Filip Bradaric? According to the Daily Record, Celtic have been credited with an interest in the midfielder, a two-time Croatia international who has scored or assisted six goals for Rijeka this season.
This is not the first time Bradaric has been linked with a move to Britain. Gianluca Di Marzio claimed last January that West Brom made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Bradaric for £8.7 million.
Such a fee would make the 26-year-old Celtic’s all-time record signing, suggesting that his addition would either be a real coup or a bold investment.
Bradaric is a more defensively minded player than Rogic, who is arguably most at home in a position which releases him to show off his playmaking abilities.
But the Croatian would add some presence and muscle in the centre-of-the-park in a period where Celtic’s squad could be stretched by domestic and European exploits.
Then again, if Celtic were willing to pay such a hefty fee for Bradaric, they would surely see him as more than a short-term quick fix.
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