Celtic have been credited with an interest in signing Benjamin Tahirovic of Ajax.
The 21-year-old midfielder is under contract with Ajax until May 2028 but according to the well informed Gianluca di Marzio Celtic are showing interest in a January deal.
Italy however seems the most likely destination for Tahirovic who left Roma in July 2023 to join the Dutch side in a move valued at just over £1m.
Celtic appear well stocked for midfielders but Transfermarkt describes Tahirovic as a defensive midfielder, a role that Celtic have struggled to fill in recent times with the possible exception of Aaron Mooy.
Arne Engels was signed in August with that role in mind but when he has played it has been in a more advanced role with Callum McGregor playing deeper.
Discussing the options, di Marzio reports:
The Bosnian born in 2003 could return to Italy, abroad he is liked by Paok Salonicco and Celtic
Tahirovic could return to play in our championship. The 2003-born player , who recently signed with Davide Lippi’s Reset Group, will leave Ajax . Lazio likes the Bosnian midfielder and he could be an idea for Fiorentina. From the outside, Paok Salonicco and Celtic are interested in him .
Tahirovic ‘s priority , however, would be to return to Serie A. In fact, he has already played in our championship with Roma since 2021 .
From that outline it doesn’t seem like Celtic will be a first choice destination but the club’s cash rich position does give them an edge, many Italian clubs spend to the maximum allowed by Financial Sustainability Rules in the summer then have to tighten their belt in January.
Adding an expensive ‘first pick’ midfielder seems unlikely, signing Lennon Miller then loaning him back to Motherwell would seem to be a transfer priority with the club short on players trained by Scottish clubs.
After the disastrous signings identified by Mark Lawwel in the summer of 2023 the additions this summer weren’t from the dubious project category.
Kasper Schmeichel has been a surprise upgrade on Joe Harte, Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah have continued to progress with their deals made permanent.
In transfer Deadline Week Alex Valle, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan and Austin Trusty were signed with three of them, McCowan being the exception, starting and impressing in Champions League matches.
With a win against YB Bern virtually guaranteeing two more Champions League matches the ambitions of the Celtic board will be tested next month.
Direct payments from UEFA from the Champions League already totals £33m with ticket money and other income streams to be added.
One of two signings in the £6-10m bracket are affordable with £9m paid by UEFA to all teams reaching the round of 16.
Bringing in signings in that range would improve the chances of reaching the last 16 and give the new arrivals time to bed in ahead of next season’s Champions League qualifiers which the top two teams in the SPFL Premiership will have to go through.
Tahirovic was born and brought up in Sweden but is a full internationalist with Bosnia.
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