Strelec unlikely to be top summer signing target for Celtic

This season, the Slovan Bratislava forward has impressed once again by netting 25 goals across 48 matches in all competitions for the Slovak First Football League champions.

His impressive performances and numbers sparked rumours that Celtic showed interest in the striker last winter after Kyogo Furuhashi’s ill-fated move to Rennes.

Nevertheless, Michal Cierny, Strelec’s agent, has clarified that the current transfer links surrounding the striker are nothing more than speculation. “It’s just rumours at the moment, there is no concrete offer on the table from Celtic,” said Cierny, as reported by The Herald.

Slovak international Strelec previously visited Scotland and Celtic Park during his career when he faced Brendan Rodgers’ side last September in the opening match of the Champions League group phase.

The 24 year-old endured a difficult evening in Glasgow’s east end on September 18, starting for his team in a 5-1 loss to Celtic, playing 85 minutes before being replaced by Idjessi Metsoko.

Following Kyogo’s transfer to Ligue 1, Celtic were linked with several forwards, either on short-term loans or permanent deals. Among the rumoured targets was Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brondby, but negotiations between the clubs stalled over the transfer fee for the talented Denmark U21 striker.

On Deadline Day, Celtic were eyeing West Ham United’s striker Danny Ings, but the move never came to fruition, leaving the club lacking options in the forward areas in the second half of the season.

Currently, Celtic rely primarily on Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda up front, with Johnny Kenny featuring in a few matches before the season concluded. Reports suggest the club aims to strengthen their attacking options before the start of next season.

With Bratislava demanding a proportionate transfer fee for David Strelec it would seem rather unlikely the Slovakian will be the top target for Celtic in the upcoming transfer window.