We're now half way through the month of January, but the influx of new signings Celtic supporters were hoping for are yet to arrive. So far, Julián Araujo is the only new recruit through the door, the right-back arriving on loan from Bournemouth.
While right-sided full-back was an obvious area of need, most fans would agree that centre-forward is the position that most urgently requires strengthening. Kyōgo Furuhashi departed a year ago, with Adam Idah sold on deadline day in September, and neither has been replaced.
Kelechi Ịheanachọ, the striker they did manage to sign after the window slammed shut, has not featured in the Premiership since 19 October at Dens due to injury.
So, supporters will be frankly furious if no striker arrives in this window, given that the Celts are involved in a three-way fight for the Premiership title. Well, one of the attackers they are targeting might just be on his way to Glasgow, after the president of his current club has made his valuation public.
Celtic transfer target slapped with €5m valuation
As noted by the Daily Record, Celtic are targeting a move to sign Franko Kovačević from Slovenian side Celje. The 26-year-old's goal-scorer exploits this season mean he is in demand, and his club knows it. Speaking to the Slovenian Press Agency, Celje president Valerij Kolotilo stated the following:
""Kovačević is currently the best European striker. Many people are talking about him, but I haven't received an offer yet. I will be satisfied with the record compensation for Celje and Slovenia. So, more than Olimpija Ljubljana received for Raul Florucz and Ezekiel Henty.""Valerij Kolotilo
That record-breaking fee for a Slovenian PrvaLiga sale would be €5 million, around £4.33 million, so would he be worth it? Well, Kovačević has certainly been a journeyman striker to date, having plied his trade in six different countries already. Hajduk Split, FC Cincinnati, Wehen Wiesbaden and Gangwon FC are among the various clubs around the world he has represented.
However, since moving to Celje in June, he has really found his best form. So far, in just 28 appearances for the Counts, Kovačević has scored 25 goals, thereby on target every 81 minutes on average.
Of these goals, 12 have been scored in UEFA competition, including braces against Lugano and Sabah, as well as a hat-trick when AEK Athens visited Stadion Z'dežele in October. Here are his goal-scoring statistics in this season's Conference League, not including qualifiers:
Franko Kovačević Conference League statistics 2025/26
Statistics | Franko Kovačević | UECL rank |
|---|---|---|
Goals | 5 | 1st |
Goals inside the box | 5 | 1st |
Shots | 21 | 2nd |
Shots on target | 13 | 1st |
Big chances missed | 6 | 5th |
As the table documents, Kovačević has been a pretty clinical finisher in this season's Conference League. All five of his goals have been scored inside the penalty area, giving you some idea of how he plays stylistically, while ranking that highly for a Celje team that finished 13th is no small feat.
The question, though, does remain: Is this just a flash in the pan, or is this form Kovačević would be able to replicate going forward at a new club? Well, at £4.3 million, he appears to be worth the gamble, and might just be the player the Celts need to wrestle the title away from Hearts and Rangers.