Jozo Simunovic has fallen out of favour at Parkhead and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic could cash in as Burnley and Crystal Palace have been linked.
That humiliating 4-0 defeat away at Hearts in December could be the last time Jozo Simunovic pulls on the Celtic colours.
The Bosnian centre-back came in for intense criticism after his disastrous performance at Tynecastle and hasn’t played for The Hoops since. Kristoffer Ajer has taken his place in the starting XI and, according to The Mail, Celtic will listen to offers of around £7 million for the defender.
As reported by the Daily Record, it is understood that Premier League duo Crystal Palace and Burnley are interested. Palace, meanwhile, may be ready to steo up their interest after Scott Dann was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the goalless draw with Manchester City on New Year’s Day.
But could Liverpool yet have the decisive, if inadvertent say, on where Simunovic ends up? Because according to Corriere dello Sport (10th January, page 15), Serie A high-flyers Lazio have identified the 23-year-old as a potential replacement for long-standing Liverpool target Stefan De Vrij.
The Reds have already brought Virgil van Dijk to Anfield in a world record £75 million deal from Southampton but appear intent on partnering him with fellow Dutchman De Vrij. The classy former Feyenoord man is out of contract with Lazio in the summer so they may be forced to cash in against their will.
And if De Vrij follows the former Celtic centre-back van Dijk to Merseyside, there is a very real chance that Simunovic could be tasked with taking his place at the Stadio Olympico.
Lazio should have no trouble paying the £7 million if they do lose De Vrij this month.
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