The Zinedin Smajlovic transfer saga is seemingly drawing to a close, as the big Swede looks all set to sign for Olympiacos…
The Sandefjord star had been rumoured to be on Celtic’s radar this window, as Martin O’Neill looks for defensive reinforcements, amongst a litany of other things the squad requires at present.
With the transfer window well opened now and pre-season coming fully into swing, the supporters are rightfully worried once more about the lack of investment and transfer activity so far.
The league campaign kicks off again in a matter of weeks and then there is the not so inconsiderable UEFA Champions League play-off tie that we need to overcome, should we want to avoid another humbling like the Kairat Almaty fiasco last year.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed on for another year which is good news for Martin O’Neill, but in all honesty that is not improving the current state of the squad, as the Ox was always there since after January the previous term. Camilo Duran is also thought to be in negotiations with the Glasgow side about a possible move to Paradise this summer, with his agent in the city at the minute to thrash out personal terms.
However, as it stands, no deal has been agreed between Celtic and Duran’s club Qarabag, making supporters nervous at the prospect of it falling through for a few hundred grand.
The Board have form for this sort of thing and if principal shareholder Dermot Desmond is directly involved, you can be sure that there will be no end of haggling going on as he does his best Del Bhoy impersonation from Only Fools and Horses.
Concurrently, it appears that rumoured target Smajlovic will indeed join the Greek Super League giants from Norwegian outift Sandefjord now, after the clubs agreed a €5 million deal, with the potential for €1 million more in add-ons, according to Swedish outlet Expressen. They state that unless something unexpected happens, Zinedin Smajlovic will become an Olympiacos player in due course.
It looks like that one is finally over, thank goodness.
Paul Gillespie
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3 Comments
Nicholson and McKay still trying to force their 10p into the coin slot in the phone box on Duke Street but too late now. Again.
3.5 mill or under seems like our limit on top of the time it takes to get dick dastardly of the golf course to make a decision, By that time the playefs have gone elsewhere
Another whinge fest from Celtic shorts. Rangers fan in disguise. If you’re not, how about a positive article for a change???