Celtic have been linked with a few high-profile names in recent weeks. One of them is that of Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, Daniel Podence. The Portuguese international looks to be headed for the Molineux Stadium exit door and Parkhead has been touted as a potential destination for the 27-year-old.
This is not the first time that Celtic have been linked with Podence. Rumours linking the Hoops with the Portuguese winger go back as far as 2020. Could it finally end up happening this summer?
Podence does not seem to have a future with Wolves. He did not feature in their pre-season games and was left out of the squad that took on Manchester United in their opening game of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
But there seems to be one major stumbling block in any deal for the Portuguese player. As reported by the Daily Record, a bid for Podence is a nonstarter due to the £12 million-rated winger’s wage demands.
Celtic suffer £12 million Podence transfer blow
So, a move for Podence is starting to look more and more unlikely with every passing day. It is difficult for Celtic to match or even come close to the wages that he receives in the Premier League.
It remains to be seen how things turn out over the coming weeks. But at the moment, it looks like a move for Podence might be a no-go.
Celtic do need to bring in a top-quality winger in order to replace Jota though. We have seen this side lack that bit of spark and creativity in the first two league games of the season. That is what the 24-year-old used to bring to the table.
Someone like Podence could have been a solid replacement for Jota. But considering the circumstances, it looks like it is time for the Hoops to look at other options.