Luka Dordevic’s ambition mean swapping Zenit for Celtic may backfire

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Celtic will reportedly offer Luka Dordevic a trial after he cancelled his contract with Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg.

Luka Dordevic is so desperate for regular first-team football that he agreed to mutually cancel his contract with Zenit St Petersburg despite having three years remaining on his deal with the Russian giants, the Daily Record reports.

You could hardly blame the Montenegrin international striker. He started just two games in the Russian Premier League for Mircea Lucescu’s side last season, scoring once and laying on a single assist.

And it’s hardly as if his first-team prospects had been enhanced by Zenit’s transfer business. The 2008 UEFA Cup winners paid big money to land highly-rated Argentine striker Sebastian Driussi from River Plate. And Dmitri Poloz, who’s intelligent link play and velvet touch caught the eye at this summer’s Confederations Cup, has joined on a free from FC Rostov.

Driussi is an eye-catching signing for Zenit

Though, with the Daily Record reporting that Dordevic could now be handed a trial ahead of a shock potential move to Celtic, would the 23-year-old really find first-team opportunities easier to come by in Scotland?

Well that depends on the future of Moussa Dembele. The 20-year-old phenomenon, whose debut campaign yielded three trophies and 32 goals, is not short of offers this summer with the Daily Mail reporting that Marseille have made him their top summer target.

Chelsea, Everton and big-spending AC Milan remain in the hunt.

However, the overriding feeling is that Dembele will remain at Parkhead at least for next season, as reported by the Daily Record. He publically announced a desire to stay and lift more silverware in Celtic colours throughout the 2016/17 campaign.

Third choice?

Furthermore, Leigh Griffiths also appears likely to be a Celtic player next season.

“I’ll keep battering the doors down to show I am good enough to stay in the Celtic squad,” he told the Daily Record a month ago amid interest from Newcastle and West Brom.

Therefore, Dordevic would face a major challenge forcing his way into Rodgers’ starting XI. If a proven goalscorer like Griffiths started just 15 league games last season, what chance a striker whose scoring record at Zenit hardly set the world alight?

Dordevic (L) may face a challenge at Celtic