Celtic’s move for Niko Sigur has become ‘unlikely’ after a new development, it is being reported.
Martin O’Neill is urging Celtic to move as quickly as possible in the January window, with the squad in desperate need of help.
Celtic were linked with Sigur earlier this week, with reports in Croatia saying that he was ‘one step away’ from moving to Glasgow.
The Hoops had reportedly beaten Wolves in the race to sign the versatile 22-year-old who plays for Hajduk Split in Croatia.
However, due to a new development at Hajduk, the situation has changed.
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Celtic ‘unlikely’ to sign Niko Sigur
Sigur can play as a right-back and as a midfielder, and has often been used in an inverted role.
A dual national between Canada and Croatia, Sigur is a Canada international after committing to the country of his birth in 2024.
READ MORE: John Barnes laments Celtic sacking Wilfried Nancy, names factor he ‘doesn’t like’
He is highly rated, and would’ve been an impressive get for Celtic on paper… but perhaps the rumours were too good to be true.
Hajduk have sold fellow full-back Fran Karacic to Croatian rivals NK Osijek on loan with an option to buy, after signing him in the summer.
As a result, according to Croatian transfer expert Izak Ante Sucic now reports that Sigur’s move to Celtic is now ‘unlikely’ to happen.
Sucic does still mention that Hajduk would be open to selling in the case of a ‘good offer’, but Celtic have never been known for reacting well to increases in players’ price-tags.
Initial reports also suggested that the sacking of Wilfried Nancy had held the deal up – Nancy was likely familiar with Sigur from his time in North America.
It isn’t clear whether O’Neill has put a hold to any deal – after all, he is continuing to emphasise the importance of supplementing the squad quickly.
Should Celtic try and sign Hibs midfielder Miguel Chaiwa? Let us know in the comments below.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic transfer message
O’Neill delivered his strongest transfer message yet at his press conference on Friday, saying: “I need players, if we can, who are ready to go.
“I need players to be ready. My job is to aim for that. I am selfish, I need people in to go now. I am going for both – quantity and quality.
“Number one, you want someone to help the squad. That’s a given. If I was given some sort of assurance that something would happen in ten days, I might wait for that. But I can’t wait forever.
“We have three weeks and a lot of games between now and then. I do accept this is a difficult time and it’s not ideal, but we do need something.”
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