The signing of Maryan Shved for Celtic looks like being the start of a partnership between the Hoops and Karpaty Lviv.
The Ukrainian club revealed, according to the Daily Record, that they also had another offer for Shved from another European club. That offer was apparently in the region of £500k.
Lviv’s Club Director Oleg Smaliychuk has confirmed that Celtic have been keeping an eye on Shved. Despite the departure of Brendan Rodgers, representatives from the club have been monitoring his progress.
And, speaking in the Daily Record, Smaliychuk opened up to the prospect of creating a link with Celtic.
“Representatives of Celtic are watching him and they will come to Ukraine soon to visit us.
“We are hoping to start a cooperation between our clubs and establish a link. Maryan will be at our club for as long as we need him this season. If the season ends early for us and there is nothing to play for, then of course he will go to Scotland sooner.
“We want him to be successful in Scotland and the longer time he gets to adapt to his life at Glasgow, the better.”
Question marks over the big European club
Smaliychuk went on to reveal that Karpaty Lviv rejected another offer from a “big European club”. That offer was more than what Celtic splashed out on the promising young talent.
It wouldn’t be hard to believe given the promise Shved has shown. Just last week he earned the Ukranian’s Player of the Week award. This was down to the sensational hat-trick he bagged on his second debut for Lviv against Vorskla.
This is a potentially exciting deal for Celtic to get done with Lviv. Effectively having a base to pick up young Ukrainian talent isn’t something the club has ever done. But more partnerships with European clubs would be a fine idea.
Celtic have, in the past, had partnerships with the likes of Santos Laguna in Mexico. This isn’t an unfamiliar route, but it’s not the one the club would tend to take lightly either.
The terms and conditions of any proposed agreement you have to imagine are still to be thrashed out. Supporters haven’t yet been made aware of the pros and cons for the Hoops.
But this is certainly something to keep an eye on.
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