Celtic are looking to sign a full-back and a striker in the January transfer window with the Scottish Premiership champions potentially preparing for life without Josip Juranovic, according to the Daily Record.
There has been, over the last 10 months or so, tentative interest in a man who has made quite the impression since joining Celtic from Croatian football for a bargain £2.5 million.
And the Hoops are under no illusions that, if Juranovic stands out on the biggest of stages, that ‘interest’ may turn into something more concrete. Especially with rumoured suitors Manchester United in the market for a right-back.
Juranovic should be one of the first names on the Croatia team sheet in Qatar. And Celtic, who wasted little time bringing in Japanese trio Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi last January, are determined to avoid being caught cold, the Daily Record claiming that replacements for Juranovic are already being ‘lined up’.
Celtic looking for Josip Juranovic replacements
Celtic look set to bring in another Far East import; Vissel Kobe’s Yuki Kobayashi. The 22-year-old is unlikely to fit the bill as a Juranovic successor, however, given his preference for a centre-half role.
The Record claims that the runaway Premiership leaders are also eyeing reinforcements at the other end of the pitch. Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgios Giakoumakis are the only real centre-forward options at Ange Postecoglou’s disposal.
Slovakia international Ladislav Almasi is one potential option. The targetman, who scored 16 times last season for Banik Ostrava, spoke about a potential move to Parkhead this week.
“(Those Celtic links are) definitely motivation,” explains Almasi; a genuine a real threat at 6ft 6ins, and with five goals in his last five games.
“Anyway, so far, I take it all as speculation. (My current form is down to) a lot of work, but mainly match practice. Last but not least, my team-mates help me a lot.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
