Ange Postecoglou’s Scottish Premiership champions are ‘the perfect club’ for Sead Haksabanovic with a £4 million deal for the talented winger close, his former Halmstads BK coach Jan Jonsson tells The Sun.
There can be no disputing Haksabanovic’s talent. The Sweden-born Montenegro international was one of the most talented footballers in Scandanavia before moving to Rubin Kazan in a £6 million deal, his dazzling displays earning him the attention of clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Leicester City and even Rangers.
What is up for debate, however, is whether Celtic really need him.
Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, James Forrest, Jota, Liel Abada and Mikey Johnston; The Hoops already have a veritable treasure trove of exciting forwards at their disposal. That will not prevent these footballing magpies from adding another shiny diamond to their collection, however.
Haksabanovic, available for a cut-price £4 million, could undergo a medical at some point over the weekend (The Sun).
‘Diamond’ Sead Haksabanovic set for Celtic move
“Sead was a diamond in our academy system at Halmstads,” recalls Jonson, who worked with Haksabanovic before his 2017 move to West Ham United.
“In those days, we had so many Premier League scouts at our games to see Sead. He went on a lot of trials and I remember speaking to Arsene (Wenger, former Arsenal manager) about him around that time.
“I feel he now needs to move again and Celtic would be the perfect club for him. It’s a big club with Champions League football this season. And it would really suit his strengths.”
Haksabanovic, a right-footed left winger who can score and create from wide areas, provided 10 goals and 12 assists during his final full season in Sweden before heading out to Russia. And Jonsson believes the 23-year-old will fit Postecoglou’s free-flowing style like a tailored Armani suit.
Another exciting forward at Parkhead
“Creative players will enjoy his way of playing. And I know Sead would enjoy it,” adds Jonsson, who knows Postecoglou from his time in Japanese football.
“For me, it would be the ideal place and the ideal coach for the next stage of his development.
“Sead is a good player and a great character. He has the talent to go and be a success at Celtic, if it happens.
“I like Sead coming in off the left in a 4-3-3 — he can be very effective in that area. But it all depends on the formation Celtic play. He is also very good as a No 10.”
Haksabanovic has spent much of the summer months training away from Rubin, keeping himself fit back at former club Djurgarden. And the club’s sporting director, Bosse Andersson, admitted on Thursday that there is truth to the Celtic rumours.
“There is interest from Celtic, that’s what I know,” Andersson admits.
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