Demir Tiknaz is the latest in a long list of names to be linked to Celtic this summer.
The young Turkish midfielder is a rising star for Besiktas and his form on loan has made Tiknaz someone of interest to Celtic.
After spending a season on loan at Rio Ave, Tiknaz is set to return to Besiktas this summer after making 33 appearances, scoring four goals and creating four in Portugal’s top flight.
But as speculation over the midfielder who is valued at over £8m to Celtic intensified, what young Tiknaz said about his ‘dream’ club to play for back in 2022 can be made possible with a move to Parkhead.
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Demir Tiknaz’s ‘dream’ of playing for Liverpool can be easily achieved at Celtic
Tiknaz had three dreams in total. One was to play alongside Lionel Messi, get capped for the Turkey national squad and then the other, was to play for Liverpool in the English Premier League.
Whilst Celtic can’t help with the Messi dream, the Parkhead club can help with the other two.
Tiknaz told The Athletic back in December 2022, “I also had a dream to play with Messi but it seems quite difficult because he’s about to quit in a few years.
“I have another dream though — that is to play in England, especially in Liverpool if I can.”
If Tiknaz needs any motivation to join Celtic all he needs to do is look at Virgil van Dijk and Jeremie Frimpong for that inspiration.
Starting with van Dijk, Celtic plucked the big Dutchman from Groningen and gave him a platform to learn his trade, win silverware and get European experience before he made the switch to the Premier League with Southampton.
It wasn’t long after when Liverpool picked him up to make him the world’s most expensive defender and now a two-time Premier League winner and Champions League winner.
Jeremie Frimpong was plucked out of Man City obscurity by Neil Lennon, and within a year he was whisked away to the German Bundesliga.
Two seasons later, Frimpong is now at Liverpool and preparing to play in the biggest league in Europe.
Celtic-linked Demir Tiknaz describes himself as ‘a little bit like Busquets’
Celtic fans don’t know a lot about young Tiknaz, so what kind of player is he? The young Turk describes himself as just like Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets.
Tiknaz continued, “A box-to-box midfielder, that was my aim. Now I can say I’m a little bit like Busquets’ style, though I’m taller than him — I am 1.93m (6ft 4in).
“But I’m kind of a playmaker; regista. At the same time I can play No 8, box-to-box, too. I feel good in these positions. I always want to have possession. I’m that kind of a guy.”
Celtic do need to strengthen the midfield heading into next season and at just 20, Tiknaz could be a player for the future for the Parkhead club.
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