Football Insider pundit Alan Hutton has urged Celtic to make a renewed move for defender Mario Vuskovic.
The Lowdown: Vuskovic to Celtic so far…
Reports last month linked the Hadjuk Split defender with a move to Parkhead, with Celtic willing to pay £5m for the teenager. The Hoops were willing to hand the centre-back a contract worth £12,000 per week and seemed to be closing in on Vuskovic.
However, rumours have gone quiet recently, and agent Craig Moore believes that Celtic have now ‘gone cold’ on signing the defender.
[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-9/" title="Celtic updates!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]
The Latest: Hutton’s comments
Hutton was talking to Football Insider regarding Vuskovic and seemed to be all for a move, urging the Hoops to make a U-turn on the centre-back after seemingly cooling their interest.
The 36-year-old said:
“I’ve heard from people in the game he’s a very good ball-playing centre-half and he obviously plays for the Croatia Under-21s.
“Yes, he’s only 19 but everybody’s coming through a lot earlier these days. They’re taught a different way, to carry the ball out from the back and make attacks happen. This is the modern-day centre-back.
“They’ve obviously done their homework on him. They’re not just going to sign a 19-year-old for £5million if they don’t trust and believe in what he can bring to the team.
“Getting potentially £12million in for Ajer and spending £5million on a 19-year-old who can learn and develop under the new manager, that’s a good bit of business.”
The Verdict: All hinges on Ajer
Hutton mentions Ajer, and the future of the Norwegian could be crucial when it comes to Celtic possibly bringing Vuskovic to Parkhead.
The Hoops now want £20m for the 23-year-old centre-back, who has just 12 months left on his contract, and they rejected a bid from Brentford which could have been worth £15m.
Should Ajer depart, Celtic could go back in for Vuskovic as well as Carl Starfelt, with the Swedish centre-back another defender with whom the club have halted talks due to Ajer’s situation.
In other news: 'Where are the brains?' - Many Celtic fans react to Scott Burns' transfer update.