Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has given the Hoops the green light over a deal for Hadjuk Split defender Mario Vuskovic, according to The Scottish Sun.
The Lowdown: Postecoglou needs signings
Postecoglou admitted in his first press conference that there is some urgency regarding additions to a couple of positions, and you’d think one of those would be at centre-back.
Kristoffer Ajer has made it clear that he wants to leave the club and Christopher Jullien is currently out injured, possibly leaving Postecoglou with just Stephen Welsh as the club’s only available natural centre-back.
Celtic have less than a month before their Champions League qualifier against FC Midtjylland, and it appears as if a move for Vuskovic is starting to gather pace.
The Latest: Vuskovic latest
The Scottish Sun believe that Celtic have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of the 19-year-old. They claimed that the Hoops have blown Serie A club Torino out of the water when to comes to contract proposals.
Celtic are ready to offer Vuskovic a four-year deal worth £12,000 per week, wages which would see him pocket £2.5m through to 2025.
Postecoglou has given Dominic McKay the green light to proceed with a deal for the youngster, so it seems as if the centre-back could be the 55-year-old’s first major signing as Hoops manager.
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The Verdict: A significant first addition
Should Vuskovic end up becoming Postecoglou’s first Parkhead addition, it could well turn out to be a brilliant one in the long run. He is highly regarded after being included in The Guardian’s 60 next-generation talents three years ago.
Vuskovic’s market value has also rocketed by £5m in the space of 12 months, and it appears as if Celtic are desperate to get him in as soon as possible with the lure of a bigger pay packet than both David Turnbull and Ryan Christie.
Postecoglou could well end up solving Celtic’s centre-back issues with Vuskovic, who you’d expect will only get better during the duration of his potential four-year deal with the Hoops.
In other news: Report claims 'unbelievable' Celtic ace 'will not return' under Postecoglou as news emerges, find out more here.