At a time in which Liel Abada, Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda are not even guaranteed a place in Celtic’s starting XI – such has been the success of their recruitment during the Ange Postecoglou era – the Hoops’ inability to bring Luka Ivanusec to Glasgow during the summer of 2019 has not been felt quite as much as it might have been.
Celtic, according to reports, had offered a total package of around £4.5 million for the then-20-year-old Ivanusec.
The perennial Scottish Premiership champions would be left disappointed however. Ivanusec opted instead to make the short journey from Lokomotiv Zagreb to city rivals Dinamo. uch was his desire to stay put and continue his eye-catching development in his Croatian homeland.
“Big European clubs like Celtic and Olympiakos wanted him,” a Dinamo source told the Scottish Sun
Celtic wanted now-Burnley target Luka Ivanusec
Now 24, Ivanusec’s market value has more-than doubled in the time since Celtic were expressing their interest.
According to Sportske Novosti, newly-crowned Championship champions Burnley could follow up their return to the Premier League by submitting a £10 million bid for a man capped 12 times by the World Cup bronze medalists.
Ivanusec is reportedly one of Vincent Kompany’s top summer targets. Scoring nine times and setting up four more from his attacking midfield role in 2022/23; Ivanusec would join Burnley after winning the Croatian league title in each of his three seasons at Stadion Maksimir. Dinamo are currently ten points clear in top spot.
Sportske Novosti, meanwhile, add that Burnley could reach a deal early in the window.
The perfect fit?
Kompany’s attractive, attacking approach – Burnley have scored the second-most league goals and average the most possession per game – should suit this stylish string-puller down to the ground.
Burnley finally secured the Championship title on Tuesday night; edging over the line at the home of their arch rivals Blackburn Rovers. Manuel Benson’s 66th minute winner his very own ‘Sylvain Wiltord at Old Trafford’ moment.
Ivanusec is a bonafide fans’ favourite at Dinamo Zagreb. The struggles of former team-mate Mislav Orsic at Southampton may also be something of a cautionary tale.
But, four years after rebuffing Celtic’s advances, the chance to play Premier League football – under one of Europe’s most exciting and attractive young mangers – may be an opportunity to good to ignore this time around.
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