Celtic are said to be considering a move for a young winger who has been impressing in France. It has been a frustrating summer so far for the Hoops. who have made just the one new signing, with Camilo Duran having made the move from Qarabag on a £5.5million deal.
Martin O'Neill says it has been difficult to convince players to join the club, leaving the Bhoys very short of options just a couple of weeks from the start of the new season, especially with the expected departures.
Celtic now considering winger move
Celtic have been linked with a fair few wingers this summer, and it's clear they are in the market for a wideman. Motherwell's Elijah Just has been heavily linked, but there has been little movement from the Hoops on that front so far.
That may suggest they are looking elsewhere, and according to CeltsAreHere, the Hoops could return to Azerbaijan to do some more of their summer shopping. It's claimed Aaron Malouda, son of former Chelsea winger Florent, is of interest.
The 20-year-old is expected to be on the move this summer, and it's claimed his current club, Sabah, know they are going to have a hard time keeping the young talent. It's claimed they want 3million euros plus add-ons for his services, but that does make Malouda a cheaper option than the aforementioned Just, who will cost more than £4million.
The report adds that Basel are interested, but Sampdoria have made the most progress with talks despite having a cheeky low offer rejected right after the season.
Malouda recently provided an assist as Sabah defeated TNS in their Champions League qualifier first round. That came after he scored nine goals and provided four assists in 24 league games. Malouda joined the Azerbaijan club having come through the ranks with Stade Rennais and then Lille.
He is currently under contract until 2029, so Sabah are not under any pressure to sell beyond the possibility of the player wanting to move to a bigger league.
Celtic may be able to offer Champions League football, and there is no longer a cup-tie rule, which is handy, given Malouda has already played in the qualifiers.
Naturally, the 20-year-old would be a gamble given his age and relative lack of experience, but he would be a cheap gamble at 3million euros or a touch over. Celtic have money to spend this summer, and it's clear they will have to target players from not such high-profile leagues, given the struggles they are having convincing players to move.
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