Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Robin Hack is flattered by interest from a number of clubs after Scottish Premiership giants Celtic came calling for the Germany U21 international, speaking to Sky Deutschland.
Celtic might have thought that a return to the Champions League group-stages would give them the edge over rival clubs for talented young players like Hack.
Reports suggesting that the former Hoffenheim and Nurnberg defender has turned down Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops in favour of a move to Switzerland, then, may have taken the Glasgow giants by surprise.
According to Plettenberg, Hack has rebuffed Celtic’s advances. He wants to join Swiss outfit Basel instead, a £1.3 million move to St Jakub’s Park edging ever closer.
This is not to say Hack isn’t flattered by Celtic’s interest, however. One of the few players to emerge from Arminia Bielefeld’s Bundesliga relegation with his reputation enhanced, his time in the limelight – and the gossip columns – is well deserved.
Celtic miss out as Robin Hack chooses Basel instead
“It’s nice when there are rumours,” explains Hack. “I’m happy here and I enjoy football a lot.
“That’s football; you can never give a clear commitment of what’s coming when rumours are happening. I can’t say 100 per cent what will happen in the next few days.”
According to Sky Germany, Arminia Bielefeld are likely to accept a bid in the region of £1.3 million from Basel. The Swiss giants have long-since established themselves as a reliable finishing school for exciting young talent; Mo Salah, Granit Xhaka, Arthur Cabral moved onto bigger and better things after fine spells at St Jakub’s Park.
A versatile attacking midfielder who likes to cut in from the left, it may be that Celtic saw Hack as a potential alternative to the similarly right-footed Sead Haksabanovic.
Haksabanovic, formerly of West Ham United, joined the Hoops for a reported £1.7 million last week.
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