Celtic have reportedly accelerated in the race for Elias Filet.
Despite the lack of an official announcement that Martin O’Neill is staying as manager, Celtic’s transfer groundwork has already been done for a seismic summer rebuild.
A striker is seemingly on the wishlist, with reports now emerging that 24-year-old Filet is a serious target, but there are other clubs in the race.
By the looks of things, the Frenchman’s situation is set to move quickly.
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Celtic have video call with FC Aarau striker Elias Filet
According to Sacha Tavolieri, Celtic had a video call on Tuesday for talks with Filet, who plays for FC Aarau in the Swiss second division.
Genk have made a proposal, whilst FC Lorient are ready to make an offer.
READ MORE: What Martin O’Neill should learn from Celtic’s years of chaotic recruitment
Celtic’s interest in the 24-year-old is serious, but they will have to win an intense race if they are to secure his signature.
Filet is 6 ft 1 in and left-footed. He was named Aarau’s Player of the Year with 22 goals as they made the promotion play-offs this season.
He scored a stunning overhead kick in their play-off defeat to Zurich and also got the only goal in their upset cup win over Young Boys earlier in the season.
A product of the highly-regarded Sochaux academy, Filet excelled on a loan spell at Progres Niderkorn… yep, the Luxembourgish minnows who knocked Rangers out of Europe nine years ago.
This earned him a move to Istra in Croatia, but goals were hard to come by until his breakout campaign in Switzerland.
Strikers are a necessity for Celtic this summer, with Junior Adamu and Tomas Cvancara’s loan moves over and Kelechi Iheanacho yet to renew his contract.
After struggling to deal with the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi, the Hoops then sold Adam Idah without a direct replacement.
Daizen Maeda, who has spent plenty of time up front over the last eighteen months, is widely expected to leave this summer.
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