Celts back in talks for £3m Croat Juranovic
Bhoys return to table for £3m right-back but strike target Henry is on way to Gent
CELTIC have re-opened talks for Croatia defender Josip Juranovic – but their bid to land striker Thomas Henry appears dead in the water. The Hoops had previously identified Legia Warsaw defender Juranovic as one of their top right-back targets but the initial offer made by the Parkhead club was short of the Polish side’s £3million valuation.
But Celtic returned to the table and are keen to get a deal over the line after holding further talks with Juranovic’s representatives.
Meanwhile, French ace Henry has moved closer to sealing a move to Gent.
Sources in Belgium have told Record Sport Henry’s
£4.5m transfer with add-ons from Leuven is now ‘95 per cent’ complete after the two clubs shook hands on a price last week.
Signing a striker and a right-back has been the priority for boss Ange Postecoglou as he tries to rebuild Celtic.
Juranovic, 26, has won 10 caps for Croatia and had spells with Dubrava and Hajduk Split. He moved to Poland last year.
Anthony Ralston’s recent return to form has helped ease the pressure on bringing in a new right-sided full-back and Celtic have also been working on other targets including Yan Couto, who is a loan option from Manchester City.
Brazilian Couto was a guest of Celtic’s at last week’s Europa League clash with Jablonec.
It has proved a difficult deal to close with Braga and Girona, where he’s previously been on loan, among the clubs keen on the19-year-old.
Jurnavovic would be more costly but he’d be a permanent signing.
The door hasn’t been closed on top target George Baldock either but that is a more expensive deal again with Sheffield United reluctant to sell one of their key players as they try to win promotion to the Premier League.
At the other end of the pitch, striker Henry is expected to sign on the dotted line for Gent before the weekend unless the Parkhead club launch a counter offer at the 11th hour.
Our source revealed: “It seems that Leuven’s board of directors became impatient with Celtic for lingering without making a concrete offer.
The player is now very close to finalising an agreement with Gent.
“The deal is not 100 per cent finished yet but it is around 95 per cent complete.”
It’s understood that Postecouglou had lined up the 26-year-old Frenchman Henry as his first choice to fill countryman Odsonne Edouard’s boots.
But the Hoops had been hoping to cash in on their own want-away talisman before splashing out on his successor.
Edouard has been attracting interest from both Southampton and Brighton but it’s believed the former PSG kid’s bumper wage demands may have caused both Premier League clubs to assess their options.
Gent, meanwhile, need to bulk up their firepower after selling Ukrainian Roman Yaremchuk to Benfica earlier this summer for £15m.
And they hope to beat Celtic to Henry’s signature in the next few days.