Celtic are reported to have pulled out of a deal to sign Sejad Hakshabanovich from Russian side Rubin Kazan.
The 23-year-old winger looked like an alternative option to Jota but with that deal completed with Benfica it is unlikely that Celtic will be spending big again to fill that position.
Russian clubs won’t be competing in Europe this season due to the invasion of Ukraine with the Swedish born Montenegrin internationalist likely to be on the move this month.
Russian website Sport Express claims:
According to SE, Rubin tried to sell midfielder Sejad Hakshabanovich to Scottish Celtic during the summer transfer.
Kazan offered the player to the club, which a year ago, defender Karl Starfelt was sold for 5 million euros.
Celtic abandoned the idea of signing another player from Rubin due to difficulties in cash transactions.
A year ago, Rubin bought Hakshabanovich for 6.5 million euros from the Swedish Norrköping. So far, the footballer is keeping fit at his former club, the Swedish Halmstad.
‘Cash transaction’ looks like a phrase that has been lost in translation.
Including the three loans converted to permanent moves Celtic have signed seven players this window with the current emphasis being on moving players out.
Chris Jullien, Mikey Johnston, James McCarthy and Albian Ajeti have all been linked with leaving the hoops but nothing appears to be imminent.
CLICK HERE for Hakshabanovich’s Transfermarkt profile.
“Cash transaction” might have summat to do with all the sanctions preventing folk doing business with Russia?
Jota will do just fine, thank you.