Swedish coach Jan Jönsson has insisted that Celtic would be the ‘ideal’ fit for reported transfer target Sead Haksabanovic.
The 23-year-old looks to be edging closer to a move to Parkhead, with a medical expected to take place in London within the next 24 hours.
If reports are to be believed, Celtic could be about to pick the winger up at a bargain price, with his current side Rubin Kazan slashing their asking price after attempting to make back the £6 million they paid for the player last summer.
Haksabanovic appears to have his heart set on a move to Celtic Park, and he will be looking to kick-start his career once again after a disruptive 12 months.
It all started for the Swedish-born attacker at Halmstads BK, where he broke through and made his debut at just 15-years-old, before earning a move to English Premier League side West Ham just two years later.
And the man who handed him his debut was former Rosenborg coach Jan Jönsson.
Speaking in a recent interview, the 62-year-old provided the Celtic support with an insight into what to expect from Haksabanovic as an attacking option in the Hoops side.
Having also had spells in Japan, where he came up against Ange Postecoglou as manager of Shimizu S-Pulse, Jönsson has stated that a move to Celtic to play under the former Socceroos boss would the ‘ideal’ move for the Montonagrin internationalist.
He said [Sun Sport]: “Sead was a DIAMOND in our academy system at Halmstads. There was a lot of publicity when he made his debut at 15 — but he was ready.
“I didn’t need to play him, but I saw his talent, and I felt we should advance his career as soon as possible. He was born in 1999, so he was very young for that level in 2015, but he did so well for Halmstads.
“Physically, there was no problem for Sead. At 15, he was already strong enough, and he had a good football head.
“If I felt it would hurt his progress, I wouldn’t have played him, but it was the opposite. He became a regular, and then he made the club a bit of money when he went to West Ham.”
He continued: “Rubin Kazan paid a lot of money for him last summer, but everyone knows what happened with Russian football.
“I feel he now needs to move again, and Celtic would be the perfect club for him. It’s a big club with Champions League football this season, and it would really suit his strengths.
“I am very familiar with Postecoglou’s style from our time together in Japanese football. Creative players will enjoy his way of playing, and I know Sead would enjoy it. For me, it would be the ideal place and the ideal coach for the next stage of his development.
“I last spoke to him a few weeks ago, and I wish him all the best in the future. Sead is a good player and a great character. He has the talent to go and be a success at Celtic if it happens.”
Haksabanovic could prove to be another excellent piece of recruitment by Ange Postecoglou.
Since his arrival at Celtic Park in the summer of 2021, Ange Postecoglou’s recruitment has been almost spot on, bringing in a number of quality additions.
And the signing of Sead Haksabanovic could prove to be another excellent signing by the Celtic manager.
The former West Ham man appears to perfectly fit the bill for what the 56-year-old is looking for, by adding a versatile attacker to his ranks.
At a slashed price, it isn’t expected to blow the Bhoys budget out the water either, and could even make the club more money further down the line should he prove to be a success.
Going off of what Jönsson has to say about the winger, it certainly seems like the ideal move for all parties as Haksabanovic edges closer to a future in the green and white Hoops.
In other news, Former Celtic winger could be set for UK return after MLS spell.
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