I’m happy with Hoops, says Simu
JOZO SIMUNOVIC says he will reject a January move to England – even if Celtic want him to go.
Crystal Palace and Newcastle sent scouts to Hampden to watch the 22-year-old Croatian play in the Betfred Cup semi-final win over Rangers.
While he has had injury problems since moving to Scotland in 2015, he is highly rated as Torino’s failed £4 million attempt to sign him in the summer demonstrated.
Now, with fees rising ever higher because of the inflated English market, the Hoops could be confident of taking in at least double the £3 million they paid Dinamo Zagreb for him in 2015.
But Simunovic insists he is going nowhere.
“It doesn’t matter what Celtic say – I want to stay here,” he said. “I know some clubs are still asking for me but it’s not time for me to be leaving.
“I still haven’t shown everything of me to the Celtic fans.
“And when I look back on what happened in August, I’m happy I’m still here.
“I’m really enjoying it under this gaffer, Brendan Rodgers. Everything is fine for me.
“I have been impressed by him but I think he has also been impressed by me.
“Now that whole Torino story is finished, I’m here, I’m happy, I feel great.
“I think I’m playing well but of course I can be better every day. Every player should feel that way.”
Top priority for the defender is to get himself to the point where he can play more than one game a week with the lingering effects of knee injury having cost him the chance to play in Celtic’s European action this season.
“My fitness is still in a process of building. It’s a normal process but a very long recovery,” he said.
“I would like to play more. That’s natural for every player but we have to be smart sometimes
“I hope I am getting close to being able to play in midweeks as well as at the weekends, certainly I hope to be able to play in our remaining Champions League games against Barcelona and Manchester City as well, of course, as the League Cup Final against Aberdeen.”