Timothy Castagne may not be heading to Celtic this month, but he could at the end of the season.
According to the Scottish Sun, the Atalanta man could still leave in the summer.
Celtic are reportedly interested in securing the services of Jeremy Toljan tonight. The deal is apparently a loan until the end of the season with no option to buy. Therefore, Celtic will be in the same situation regarding a right-back at the end of the season.
But Castagne has opened up after Atalanta hammered Juventus 3-0 in the Coppa Italia last night. He was the man who opened the scoring, and. as reported by the Sun, he’s open to leaving this summer.
“Atalanta does not want to let me go and I do not want to leave (this month). The club has also activated an option in my contract, so I am here until 2021.
“But let’s see what happens in the summer. I certainly won’t be ruling out a departure from Atalanta then. If I do go, it would have to be a team that plays in the Champions League and for a club that goes every year for the title.
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“If Atalanta have the same goals and gets to play European football, then maybe I will stay here.”
Worth keeping an eye on Atalanta
Certainly, going by Castagne’s words, the opportunity could certainly be there for Celtic in the summer.
According to the Scotsman, Celtic rubbished claims they had a bid rejected by Atalanta. If that’s the case, then they may have just been put off by his original reported value of £6million.
But, interestingly, one of the reasons Atalanta had reportedly rejected this mystery Celtic bid was down to the fact they didn’t have time to find a replacement. They now have the entire second-half of the season to sort that out given they must be prepping him potentially going.
The extension to his contract doesn’t help. Atalanta hold all the cards now, with a further two-and-a-half years until it runs out.
But, with Castagne wanting to play in a team that goes for titles every year, the hopefully by then eight-in-a-row champions would be an attractive proposition.