Football website 90Min claim that Chelsea are interested in raiding Scottish champions Celtic for defender Josip Juranovic this summer. The report claims a fee of £15million could tempt Celtic into selling the Croatian star.
Juranovic, 26, has attracted the attention of Atletico Madrid already this summer – after a brilliant first season at Celtic. Costing the Hoops just £2.5million, the 20-time Croatia international played 35 times for Celtic last season.
He scored five goals and laid on two assists, either from right-back or left-back. Chelsea have brought in Marc Cucurella and retained Cesar Azpilicueta on a two-year deal – but want more options at full-back.
The report says Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters and Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries are options. But Chelsea have been ‘doing background work’ on Juranovic and are now in a position where they could tempt Celtic with an offer.
It is believed that if an offer of around £15million is put on the table, Celtic could accept. Little surprise, given it would see Celtic rake in their initial outlay on Juranovic six times over. Ally McCoist once branded Juranovic “outstanding”.
Chelsea interested in Celtic defender Juranovic: £15million fee
It is an interesting one. The first question is, do Chelsea really need another full-back? They have kept Azpilicueta with Reece James first choice. Cucurella is likely to play competition with England defender Ben Chilwell.
However, Thomas Tuchel could be thinking that Azpilicueta will become the first-choice option on the right of a back three, as he grows further into his thirties. That means cover is needed at right wing-back and Juranovic fits the bill.
In terms of Chelsea’s work in the window this summer, Juranovic is one of their cheapest outlays – if he joins – at that fee. But it would be an incredible bit of business by Celtic. Especially, given the fee they paid just 12 months ago.
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