Celtic’s rebuild is likely to see lots of change in the midfield department this summer, with Issa Doumbia a possible target.
Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo are among those likely to leave this summer while the trio of Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Arne Engels have all been on the receiving end of interest.
Doumbia was previously a target for the Hoops, but they may have missed the boat after watching his valuation soar thanks to his performances with Venezia.
Do you expect Celtic to break their record transfer fee this summer? (£11m)
Celtic target Issa Doumbia has seen his value soar at Venezia
The 22-year-old has scored seven league goals and provided five assists this season, playing a key role in Venezia’s push at the top end of Serie B.
That form has made him one of the more exciting midfielders in the division.
The really eye-catching detail, though, is how quickly his value has climbed.
Venezia paid just €1m to sign Doumbia from AlbinoLeffe in 2024, but he is now said to be worth as much as €15m.
That is a huge rise in a short space of time, and it explains why Celtic may now face a much tougher task if they want to bring him to Glasgow as it would mean breaking their record for a transfer, which was £11m for Engels in 2024.
Celtic may face major competition for Issa Doumbia transfer
According to Sport Witness, if Celtic do choose to go back in for Doumbia, they will almost certainly face competition for his signature.
Club Brugge, Espanyol and Sporting are also said to be keen, while major Serie A clubs are now monitoring his development.
Clubs competing in big five leagues will almost certainly have an advantage, especially if the Bhoys don’t win the league and fail to qualify for the Champions League.
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