Olympiacos are in daily talks to sign reported Celtic target Zinedin Smajlovic according to information in Greece.
Contested reports from April-May time said that Celtic had shown ‘concrete interest’ in Smajlovic, with Bodo/Glimt also in the hunt for the centre back.
Smajlovic’s agent then denied interest from Celtic, saying that there had been no approach from the Hoops.
Instead, he is now moving closer to a move to the Greek giants, who seem extremely keen on the 22-year-old.
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Olympiacos ‘full speed ahead’ for Zinedin Smajlovic
According to Greek newspaper FOS, Olympiacos are ‘giving everything’ to sign Smajlovic, and are in daily contact with Sandefjord over a deal.
The player is open to the move.
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The report is written in incredibly strong terms, claiming that Olympiacos want to ‘exhaust every possibility’ to sign him, as they continue their push with ‘undiminished intensity’.
Despite being a centre-back, Smajlovic’s style of play is more akin to that of a midfielder. His game is defined by regular marauding runs with the ball, and an emphasis on progressive passing.
Jens Berthel Askou’s Toulouse have also been linked with the 22-year-old; this would certainly be a stylistic fit on paper.
After leaving Brommapojkarna in his youth, Smajlovic was taken from the third tier of Swedish football to play for Lecce in Serie A in 2023.
He was unable to establish himself in Italy so returned to Sweden in 2024. For the last year, he has played for Sandefjord in the Norwegian top flight.
Celtic have been linked with several central defenders already ahead of the summer window, with Oskar Wojcik, Luke Graham and Scott McKenna all being scouted,
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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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