Celtic’s top transfer target is desperate for Parkhead move

It looks like that the player is desperate for a move to Celtic but his transfer fee is turning out to be a bit of a stumbling block for the Hoops.

It is no secret that Neil Lennon is still looking to add a striker to his attacking unit for the season with the club set to challenge for 10IAR. Celtic already might have the likes of Edouard, Griffiths, Klimala and Bayo at Parkhead but you can never have enough firepower up top. Especially when it looks like Bayo is set to leave very soon.

Now at this point of time it is unclear who that man will be for Celtic. A variety of strikers have been linked with a switch to Parkhead with rumours surrounding Steven Fletcher picking up momentum recently. And it is safe to say Celtic fans do not want the Scot at the club.

One man they would not mind having though is Peterborough striker Ivan Toney. He was in spectacular form last season, scoring 24 goals and providing 6 assists in 32 League One games. And as a result, clubs have taken notice.

Celtic are one for the clubs who are interested but the transfer fee has appeared to be a stumbling block. Today Peterborough’s Director of Football Barry Fry even went on to admit that Toney himself wants the Parkhead switch. As reported by the Daily Mail, he said:

"“They are running out of time now. The lad is very close to signing for someone else in the next couple of days.“Celtic would have been his preferred choice, but they are nowhere near it. I heard from Ivan’s agent to say Celtic were coming back. That was Sunday evening after their first game. They had heard Celtic would be coming back, but I haven’t heard anything.”"

Now there are two ways to interpret this. Either no club is really close to signing Toney and he is just trying to force Celtic into action. Or, he wants to start a bidding war between the clubs for the striker.

One has to question the logic between spending a huge amount of money on Toney. According to reports, he is going to cost somewhere between £5-10 million. And that is not a price Celtic will pay for someone who will most likely play second fiddle to Odsonne Edouard. Plus, he does not have any top level experience.

If you ask us, the funds could be spent elsewhere to strengthen positions that are in more immediate need for fresh blood.