Celtic linked with £13 million Armenian playmaker

Celtic fans are anticipating a much more successful transfer window this summer. The desire for quality players ready to step into the first team from the get-go remains. The club's scouting team look to be busy identifying new prospects, despite the departure of Mark Lawwell as well as first-team scout Joe Dudgeon.

One potential prospect whom the Hoops seem to be following is 23-year-old Armenian playmaker Eduard Spertsyan. He is one of the top players in the Russian Premier League currently.

Spertsyan is a number 10 with an eye for a goal. According to Transfermarkt, in his 20 league appearances this season for FC Krasnodar, he has scored eight goals and provided five assists. 

He also has 25 caps for Armenia which broadens his experience. As do a couple of Champions League matches against Chelsea and Sevilla in season 2020/21 for FC Krasnodar. 

Celtic linked with £13 million Armenian playmaker

As reported by the Daily Record, Spertsyan has been linked with a summer move to Celtic. A £13 million move to Newcastle United has been touted for him, while Ajax were also linked last season. However, his transfer asking fee has since dropped significantly and reports in Russia claim the 23-year-old is being monitored by the Hoops. The player seems to be eyeing up a move to Europe himself as he said:

"I like being at Krasnodar, but I want to try to go to Europe while I have the chance, I don’t know what can happen there. I’m confident and I think I can achieve even bigger goals."

With question marks over whether Matt O’Riley and Paulo Bernardo will still be at the club next season, the Hoops should have eyes on alternatives. Spertsyan could be a good fit.

He certainly has a ton of potential. He was in the 2022/23 Russian Premier League Team of the Season. He was also the 2022 Armenian Footballer of the Year. And at 23 years of age, Spertsyan is nowhere near his peak and is only expected to get better moving forward.