Celtic are reportedly pursuing striker Artem Dovbyk.
According to reports from Tribuna in Ukraine, Celtic have pursued a deal for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk striker Artem Dovbyk ahead of the January transfer window.
The Bhoys already have two prolific strikers in Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele, but manager Brendan Rodgers may now pursue a deal for a third centre forward.
Dnipro starlet Dovbyk, 20, joined the club in 2015 but is now starring in the second division of Ukraine, having hit 12 goals in 12 games this season.
The problem for Dnipro is that Dovbyk’s contract expires at the end of the year, meaning he will become a free agent during the January transfer window – and Tribuna report that Celtic and Augsburg are both keen to snap him up.
A move to join Celtic – with the chance of playing Champions League football – should be appealing enough for Dovbyk, but the Bhoys may just have some help from Ukraine boss Andriy Shevchenko.
Shevchenko recently called Dovbyk up to the Ukraine squad for the first time, and the former AC Milan star has experience of convincing a player to sign for Celtic – despite no clear ties to the Bhoys.
Ukraines coach Andriy Shevchenko
Former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati has this week told the Glasgow Evening Times that he received a phone call from ex-AC Milan teammate Shevchenko before signing for Celtic in 2007, persuading him to join the Bhoys.
Ten years on, one of Shevchenko’s Ukrainian internationals may be faced with a similar decision, and Celtic may well be hoping that he can convince Dovbyk to join them – just as he did with Donati – over tipping a move to Augsburg.
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