Two factors have emerged that could make Moi Elyounoussi a permanent Celtic signing in the summer.
During talks to sign Fraser Forster on loan in August it emerged from talks with Southampton that the former Molde winger was also available.
Signing a 25-year-old from the EPL on a permanent basis would normally be way outwith Celtic’s budget but after seeing the way that he Moi has settled into Neil Lennon’s side a summer move could be do-able.
No media outlet is going to publish all of the contract details of a player but in the Daily Record Scott Burns seems fairly sure about his facts.
Reports had claimed that the English Premier League side paid Basel £16 million to sign the winger back in 2018, but the actual figure is understood to be £12m plus add-ons, which are unlikely to be hit unless Elyounoussi forces his way back into the Southampton team.
That looks unlikely as Ralph Hasenhuttl sanctioned his loan to Celtic in the last window and Saints are keen to try and cut their losses and move on players that are no longer in their plans.
Southampton know that they are unlikely to recoup what they spent on Elyounoussi and it will be a case of trying to minimise any losses.
Sources close to the player in Norway have revealed that Elyounoussi’s wages are nowhere near the reported £65,000-a-week at St Mary’s – and his basic is on a level with some of Celtic’s top-paid players.
The transfer fee and wages mentioned should be just about within Celtic’s range leaving only the players thoughts on a move to be discussed.
Loyalty payments and signing on fees ensure that a weekly wage isn’t all important in a modern football contract but one factor that can’t be denied is that after a lost season at Southampton the Norwegian has got his career back on track.
Good form at Celtic could attract offers from elsewhere but as Patrick Roberts has discovered it can be a near impossible shift for a winger trying to make an impression on a struggling side.
With his Saints deal running until 2023 the player certainly has security behind him but two or three seasons at Celtic could take his game to new levels with the hoops ever willing to sell players on whenever the offer tops £20m.