Filip Uremovic has claimed that he held transfer talks with Celtic.
The 22-year-old defender has two years left on his contract with Rubin Kazan contract but seems to fit in with Celtic’s transfer profile.
Uremovic started out with Croatian side Cibalia before moving onto Dinamo Zagreb then Olimpija before switching to Russia last year.
Celtic signed Jozo Simunovic from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015 and were linked with Filip Benkovic before getting him in on loan from Leicester.
Neil Lennon has signed three defenders during the transfer window- Boli Bolingoli, Christopher Jullien and Hatem Abd Elhamed- but is still believed to be in the market for a central defender.
According to a report in The Sun Uremovic said: “I had the option to move to Celtic this summer, but the transfer did not happen. I don’t look as it as a bad thing because it meant I’m staying at Rubin and I am very happy here.
“The main reason I talked to Celtic was because of the attraction of them playing in the Champions League but the reason the deal didn’t take place was because they went out and signed another player instead.
“I’m not bitter about it because I’ve had a good season so far and there is a really good atmosphere at the club.”
Despite being back in favour at Celtic there has been regular suggestions that Simunovic could be the subject of interest from French clubs. With Jack Hendry out in the cold the possible loss of Simunovic could magnify the need for Lennon to bring in a new central defender.