Celtic have reportedly opened talks to sign striker Franko Kovacevic this month as they look to solve their attacking issues, according to Sky Sports News.
The Scottish champions have had a turbulent season so far, cycling through four different managerial stints and currently sitting six points behind league leaders Hearts. With the second half of the campaign approaching, strengthening the squad has become a priority, and adding a striker is at the top of their list. Following the collapse of a deal for Jocelin Ta Bi, Celtic have now turned their attention to Kovacevic.
Kovacevic, currently playing for Slovenian side NK Celje, has been described as a prolific forward, and his recent performances have attracted interest from clubs across Europe. Sky Sports reporter Joseph has revealed that Celtic have intensified their pursuit over the last 48 hours, making contact to discuss the terms of a potential deal.
The 26-year-old can operate through the centre or on the wing, and manager Martin O’Neill has stressed to the Parkhead hierarchy that reinforcements are needed before the February 2 transfer deadline if the team is to mount a serious challenge for the league title.
Kovacevic is not the only striker on Celtic’s radar this month. Fabrizio Romano reports that the club has also approached Chelsea over a possible move for David Datro Fofana, who they tried to sign in the summer. Fofana rejected the move at the time and subsequently joined a Turkish club.
Despite lacking a natural number nine, Celtic have still managed to score a fair number of goals, largely due to the versatility of Daizen Maeda. However, the Japanese international is more effective in a wide role, and adding a traditional striker would help balance the squad and strengthen their title ambitions. A move for Kovacevic could be a key step in achieving that goal, and the transfer is one to watch in the coming weeks.
