Hadjuk Split are in no rush to sell Mario Vuscovic.
Celtic were one of five clubs linked with the 19-year-old defender who is in his first season of top team football.
Over the last decade Celtic have invested heavily in the ‘project’ market but with a massive rebuild anticipated this summer it is expected that there will be an emphasis on tried and tested players to go straight into action.
On top of that there is uncertainty over decision making at Celtic with Peter Lawwell on his way to retirement, Dom McKay shadowing and no sign of a manager more than two months after Neil Lennon resigned.
Torino tried to sign Vuscovic on loan during the January transfer window but responding to speculation about the young defender Hadjuk president Luksa Jakobusic told The Sun:
I can neither confirm nor deny the recent reports about a bid for Mario. The player will only be sold if the deal represents good business sense for the club.
We are no longer in a position where we have to sell players to survive. The club is in a much better position financially and we will look at Mario’s position at the end of the season.
With Kris Ajer expected to be sold during the summer Stephen Welsh and Nir Bitton look like being the only central defenders reporting for pre-season training in mid July.