Russian outfit Rubin Kazan tried to sell £6 million former West Ham United forward Sead Haksabanovic to Celtic this summer, as reported by Sport Express.
After two decades of unbroken top-flight football, Rubin Kazan’s 19-year spell as first-tier club came to an end in May.
Relegated after a dreadful season in which they won just eight out of 30 games, it’s fair to say Haksabanovic’s debut season in the Russian Premier League didn’t exactly go to plan.
And the Montenegro international, who spent three years on West Ham’s books, is now training away from the rest of the Rubin squad as he looks for a route out of the Kazan Arena. Finding one, however, may be easier said than done.
Especially with one potential destination quickly closing their borders. Rubin, try as they might, failed to reach an agreement with a Celtic side who lured Karl Starfelt away from Russian football 12 months ago.
According to Sport Express, Rubin attempted to sell Haksabanovic to the Premiership champions. Celtic, however, reportedly ‘abandoned the idea’ due to the costs involved.
Rubin Kazan tried to sell Sead Haksabanovic to Celtic
Haksabanovic joined Rubin for around £6 million last year after a stellar spell at IFK Norrkoping in Sweden. And while talented he may be – the likes of Rangers, Manchester United and Arsenal were linked in recent transfer windows – Celtic had no real need for another left winger.
Not with Jota and the versatile Daizen Maeda returning to Glasgow following impressive loan spells during the 2021/22 season.
“Fantastic,” Haksabanovic’s former Norrkoping coach Rikard Norling said during their time together in Scandinavia.
“It is one thing to see (his talent) from a distance, and another to see it on a daily basis; An incredibly skilled football player.”
According to Fotboll Skanalen, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers sent scouts to watch Haskabanovic in action two years ago. Time will tell where the 23-year-old ends up next. Assuming Rubin still hope to sell before the window closes, that is.
Reports in Sweden say that Haskabanovic is currently keeping himself fit at Allsvenskan outfit Halmstads BK.
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