Transfer Latest – Price cut means David Strelec could get dream Celtic move

Celtic’s £7m January bid was rejected 

Celtic reportedly had a £7m bid for Slovan Bratislava’s David Strelec knocked back as the club looked for a Kyogo replacement with the Japanese striker getting his desired move to a top five league to join French side Rennes in a £10m move.

David Strelec was unhappy at being denied his big move to Celtic by Slovan Bratislava and made his feeling known by refusing to celebrate a goal in the first game after the window closed.

Change of mind in Slovan Bratislava boardroom 

Now though it appears that Celtic’s first Champions League opponents this season are better prepared to allow their star man to move and may even accept a lower offer, which will of course be music to the ears of those in the Celtic Boardroom!

“We took a risk with David. In the summer, maybe a slightly lower offer will come, it can happen. But David didn’t leave in the winter because we weren’t ready for it. The offers were very good, but the really interesting ones came at the last minute,” Ivan Kmotrík, the Slovan Bratislava CEO said, via a report in Daily Record.

Slovan wanted around £9m but now open to offers lower that the rejected Celtic bid 

Kmotrík rejected the late Celtic bid in the January window, believed to be for £7m as he was holding out for a fee of £9m, probably gambling on Celtic’s need to bring a Kyogo replacement quickly.  Celtic did not return to the negotiating table at that stage, instead Brendan Rodgers had an alternative plan up his sleeve, to play Daizen Maeda down the middle and that seems to have turned out just fine.

“We didn’t have a transfer target to sign for the club that was ready”

Kmotrík explained what happened. “We didn’t have a transfer target to sign for the club that was ready, it would have been a patchwork move. Today, I can’t rule out whether he will stay or leave. There is still interest in him.

“Compared to the winter, he will only be a few months older, his position has not deteriorated significantly. Maybe the club will earn a little less, but he will be well prepared and will bring adequate compensation to the club.”

The 24 year-old Slovakia international forward was left frustrated at missing out on a dream move to Celtic, after having the opportunity to experience Paradise in all it’s glory on a Champions League match at the start of the campaign.

Celtic may be tempted to return with a slightly lower bid

Celtic may be tempted to return with a slightly lower bid, with the Slovan Bratislava CEO’s comments perhaps suggesting that he has scared Celtic away. £5m tops would be the next Celtic move in the days of Peter Lawwell running the show!

It all depends on what Brendan thinks and what other options he has available including long-term Celtic target Mathias Kvistgaarden.