- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic and Rangers are both keen on Krasnodar talisman Eduard Spertsyan though the complications involved in a deal mean a move to mainland Europe is more likely as things stand.
HITC understands that one of the biggest talents in Russian football is on the radar of the Old Firm giants. Both Celtic and Rangers have been made aware of Eduard Spertsyan’s availability, and both like what they’ve seen from the gifted Armenia international.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, a bonafide set-piece specialist with a penchant for the spectacular, has nine goals and six assists in just 21 Russian Premier League appearances this season. Spertsyan also captained Krasnodar to the domestic cup final last term – they would lose on penalties – and was the only player in the top-flight to reach double figures for both goals and assists.
Celtic and Rangers like Eduard Spertsyan
Spertsyan has been linked with the likes of Ajax and AC Milan in recent times. We have been informed, meanwhile, that although there is interest from Scotland, there is an issue when it comes to British clubs signing players from Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Chelsea ran into similar difficulties when attempting to sign the now Real Sociedad-forward Arsen Zakharyan, while The Guardian reported that Tottenham were strongly discouraged by the Premier League not to sell Davinson Sanchez to Spartak Moscow.
The defender joined Galatasaray instead.
Spertsyan, we understand, is more likely to leave Krasnodar for a club on the other side of the Channel. Ajax are still keen, as are Feyenoord and Eredivisie champions-elect PSV Eindhoven.
“Yes (I want to play in Europe soon). I’ve got to fight and work (for it). I don’t want to leave here by running away or with a helicopter!,” Spertsyan told Tuttomercatoweb recently, while indicating that the fee required to sign him would be more than Chelsea or Rangers have ever spent on a single player.
“I like being here. But I want to try to go to Europe while I have the chance. I don’t know what can happen there. I’m confident and I think I can do it. I mean, achieve even bigger goals.”
When pressed on what sort of fee would be enough to get him out of Krasnodar, Spertsyan mused; “About 15 million euros. At least, (the club president) thinks so.”
Russian Premier League star could cost £13 million
Celtic do have money to spend after selling the likes of Jota for big money. The Hoops may also be quoted a club-record fee for Vitoria Guimaraes’ Portugal forward Jota Silva. Caoimhin Kelleher, the Liverpool goalkeeper who has been lined up to replace the retiring Joe Hart, is unlikely to come cheap either.
“Eduard is a very creative and smart football player,” argues Mkhitar Davidyan, the CSKA Moscow coach who knows Spertsyan from his time in Russia.
The playmaker, he feels, would fit in well in a possession-based team, even one with as many top-level talents as Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning Manchester City.
“In my opinion, Spertsyan would not be lost with Guardiola at Manchester City,” Davidyan adds.
“Because Pep promotes the kind of football that is close to Eduard in terms of his style of play and intellect.”
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