Celtic will need a new striker this summer after the sale of Kyogo in January.
The Japanese striker made a £10m switch to French side Rennes with winger Jota, who is now out for up to nine months with a knee injury, going in the opposite direction.
But Celtic saw out the window failing to replace Kyogo, although Daizen Maeda has filled the void superbly since then.
Adam Idah is also in the ranks, but the general feeling amongst fans is that Celtic need to recruit a new No.9 in the summer months, aligning with Brendan Rodgers’ comments that change is needed.
Could Celtic revisit their January pursuit of Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec? Perhaps not given what the 24-year-old has been saying recently about his future.
Celtic target Strelec feels ‘happy’ with Slovan Bratislava
Celtic launched a £7.9m bid in January to sign Strelec, who played for Slovan Bratislava in this season’s Champions League league phase.
But that bid was rejected because Slovan were seeking closer to £9m for their coveted striker who has scored 15 goals in 19 starts for his team this campaign so far.
Strelec’s father admitted he was excited when Celtic made a bid for his son and thought moving to Paradise would be a good step in his career.
However, Strelec has stressed that he feels happy at Slovan Bratislava and would not be against staying at the Slovakian giants beyond the summer.
As quoted by freelance journalist Mark Walker, Strelec has now said: “I would be lying if I said January was a completely easy period. There were a lot of discussions. It was hectic, but it’s over.
“I had to shake myself off and adjust to what awaited me for the rest of the season. Once the transfer window closed, I had to try my best to help Slovan win the title.
“There have been many versions written about what happened, but that’s the truth. But I certainly have no objection to staying at Slovan after the summer.
“I am happy here. We have an excellent team and if the management strengthens and renews it properly, as they plan, we can go far in Europe again.
“So my future depends on mutual communication with the club and whether I come to an agreement with any other teams.”
Strelec dreams of Premier League move
In a further blow to Celtic, it seems Strelec is aiming higher than the Scottish Premiership in terms of the league he wants to play in, admitting that he would “definitely” like to experience the Premier League.
He continued: “I had a spell abroad already at Spezia in Italian football and although the language was a problem, let’s be honest, if I scored in every match, I would definitely have made it. I lacked individual quality in Italy. I admit I found it really hard communicating too.
“If I had offers from two equally good clubs, one from the English Premier League and the other from Serie A, it wouldn’t be a difficult decision. Definitely England.
“It’s been four years since I left here to go to Italy. Now I have more experience. I have perhaps even improved in some ways. So, when I leave, it will be a different David Strelec.
“For me, it will be important what style of the team I should go to play and how the manager perceives me. I don’t have a preferred country, a league or a team at the moment.
“It will be important that I go where I will play, where I will be satisfied.”
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