Celtic are in a three-way race to sign Elias Filet from FC Aarau.
The striker has emerged from the wilderness this season, generating Europe-wide interest with his performances in the Swiss second tier.
Genk and Lorient are reportedly the two main competitors, with the former already having an offer on the table. Celtic have had a video conference with his agents.
The undeniable step up in level will be a doubt for some Hoops fans, but in a crucial play-off against Super League opposition last month, Filet showed his high-stakes credentials.
🚲 What Celtic target Elias Filet has in his locker…
Elias Filet’s overhead kick goal for FC Aarau against Grasshopper Zurich
Aarau finished the season in second place, securing a promotion play-off against second-bottom Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Zurich.
They lost 2-1 on aggregate after a goalless first leg, but not without the stunning acrobatics from the 24-year-old.
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Good, but not quite Daizen Maeda.
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.
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 play-offs this 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.
👀 Joe Hart fancies being in with the Green Brigade one day!
Martin O’Neill on Celtic recruitment for Champions League play-off
Asked by Track Radio about the importance of recruitment for Europe after his permanent appointment: “Absolutely, [recruitment is going to be key]. You’ve nailed it. It’s exactly right.
“We get a two-legged qualification game towards the end of August time.
“The teams that you felt you could definitely beat in, let’s say, early November, you would find really difficult to beat in, let’s say, the second or third week in August, because of the match advantages that they would have over you.
“So yeah, it’s fraught with difficulty in that sense. Celtic failed last year to make it [against Kairat], probably in two games where they would’ve been expecting to go through.
“So I will be concerned, but as you say, excited at the same time that there’s an opportunity for that.”
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