Slovan Bratislava make their stance on David Strelec clear to Celtic after signing ex-Hibs striker

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Celtic have been linked with Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec since January.

The Hoops launched a late £7.9m bid for the forward they played against in the Champions League league phase in September.

But that was rejected by Slovan, which left Strelec frustrated. But he later admitted that he is happy playing for Slovan and dreams of a move to the Premier League.

Strelec’s agent claims continued links with Celtic are merely rumours, and now the club’s general director has made his stance over the forward clear.

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Ivan Kmotrík Jr planning for future with Strelec

Slovan Bratislava general director Ivan Kmotrík Jr spoke to Sport.sk after confirming the signing of former Hibs loanee Mykola Kukharevych.

Kukharevych has signed permanently from Swansea City on a four-year deal, meaning he won’t be working under their new assistant boss Darren O’Dea in Wales next season.

And Kmotrík Jr has now said that Kukharevych will provide competition for Strelec, suggesting Slovan plan to keep the Celtic target in Slovakia.

Kmotrík Jr explained: “We watched Mykola Kukharevych during his time in Scotland, where he was a guest (loanee) from Swansea. We are acquiring an interesting alternative at the forefront of the attack in him.

“He has been through the youth national teams, he has experience in international football. Mykola uses his physical assets, but at the same time he is a technically proficient striker.

“He can bring increased competition and expanded opportunities at the forefront of the attack to David Strelec, from whom he is typologically a little different.

“I am very happy that our negotiations have come to a successful end, and we have signed a four-year contract with Mykola.”

Kukharevych scored against Celtic for Hibs

If you cast your mind back to August 2024, Celtic faced Hibs in the Premier Sports Cup second round and secured a 3-1 victory.

It was Slovan’s new signing Kukharevych who got the Easter Road side back into the match after Celtic had opened up a 2-0 lead.

But Nicolas Kuhn scored on the 56th minute to make it 3-1 and got the Hoops into the next round. Of course, Celtic went on to win the competition in December.