Celtic and Groningen are believed to be €1m apart in their valuation of Virgil van Dijk.
News of a bid emerged from Holland on Sunday with Celtic keen to get a deal done quickly with Champions League qualifiers coming in the middle of July.
Groningen are resigned to losing the 21-year-old defender but with two years left on his contract are hoping to bring in more than €3m for van Dijk.
So far Celtic haven’t gone beyond €2m but an offer in the region of €2.5m with add-ons could be acceptable to both clubs.
There is interest in van Dijk within Holland but Groningen would be happier selling the player to a non-competitor.
Celtic have money to spend after last season’s Champions League run with van Dijk’s wage demands also falling within the structure that has brought Neil Lennon so much success.
Van Dijk has been linked with a couple of English sides but the strongest interest has come from Brighton but with Gus Poyet’s future in doubt it’s unlikely that a bid will be forthcoming.
Lennon has been searching for a commanding central defensive partnership from the moment he inherited the Celtic job from Tony Mowbray.
A number of partnerships have been tried but other than the £1m paid to sign Efe Ambrose from FC Ashdod little money has been spent on that area of the team with Kelvin Wilson and Daniel Majstorovic signed on free transfers.
Like all of Celtic’s recent transfer business the possibility of selling on van Dijk at a profit increases the attractiveness of signing the defender with the €1m difference between the two clubs unlikely to be a major stumbling block.
Don’t know anything about this guy or any other targets. But, that is our policy working away. If Lenny feels he’s worth extra am sure he’ll get the money.
As for the other comment. I don’t want Hearts to crumble.
first ive heard of him but im hopeful that times have changed since the days we purchased Raphael Sheidt over an ebay auction! based on recent history, im sure our scouting network has improved somewhat…
As for the above incoherent comment, hmmm…. embarassing! people shouldn’t try to type ned like a ned talks, its stupid.. leave that to the huns!
It would be great to get a strong defensive unit. Sometimes Celtic’s central defenders seem too easily pushed off the ball.
As for first comment…get a grip!
Never heard off him but Jon park seems to know what he’s doing when he sets his sights on young talent hail hail! We need as many teams in spl as possible descent teams like hearts!!!
3 young players in for £5.5m, hopefully a playmaking midfielder to come, will be covered when we get £12m for Wanyama and £6m (at least) for hooper. Rogne and McCourt off the books… Speculating £5m for big Lurch if he gets itchy feet I am sure we can replace him for £1,5m… All bodes well for the Glasgow Celtis.. Hail Hail..
If Celtic really want Virgil they’ve got the cash lets splash some.
We need to try and move to the next level,
Dont wanna end up like sevco so spend wisely I say
That’s very true Mikey, but surely we’ve earned a fair bit this season I accept we’ve had money off our season books but some investment in playing staff without harming the cubs finances is required.
Still I trust Lenny to do the right thing.
HH
In Park we trust.