Zenit St Petersburg line up £9m bid for Rogic with EPL club also in the hunt
● Australian has been on Russian club’s radar since Europa League clash in 2018
Zenit St Petersburg are preparing to table a £9 million bid this week for Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic.
It is understood that Celtic are unwilling to tolerate offers for the Australian internationalist who still has four years on his contract for anything less than £15m. There is also substantial interest in the midfielder from an English Premier League side and Celtic’s resolve is set to be tested in the coming days with a formal bid anticipated from Zenit.
Rogic came to the attention of Zenit when Celtic played against them in the Europa League in February 2018. Celtic were eliminated after a 3-1 defeat but it is understood that Rogic has been on the radar of the Russian side for the last 18 months.
On the hunt for a No 10, Rogic has been identified as the player the Russians wish to add to their squad but Celtic are reluctant to sell.
Rogic did not travel with Celtic to Austria for pre-season but is understood to be on track to be fully fit for the start of the season.
The player’s preference is understood to be for a move to the English Premier League but with a lucrative contract set to be put before him from Zenit he could have a major decision to make.
Meanwhile, Celtic’s treble treble squad made a good first impression on new boy Christopher Jullien after he joined them in Switzerland.
The 26-year-old French centre-half, pictured, became the club’s first summer addition when he completed a move from Toulouse on a four-year deal reportedly worth £7m and he arrived at the team hotel on Sunday night ahead of the third and final game of their pre-season tour, against FC St Gallen tonight.
He met his new team-mates yesterday morning and, together with fellow new signing Luca Connell, took part in his first training session after which he spoke in glowing terms about players who have swept the board in Scotland for the past three seasons and who will be aiming for nine consecutive Ladbrokes Premiership titles next season.
“It was good to have the first training session of the season here,” he said. “It’s been nice to meet the guys and work with the coaches on a plan to have me fit and ready. There are some great players here. They haven’t become winners by doing nothing. There’s good talent in this squad and I can’t wait to be playing with them.
“The reception has been great. The guys welcomed me at breakfast this morning. I think this group of guys are really nice so it’s going to be exciting working with them.”
Jullien previously played with striker Odsonne Edouard at Toulouse but that made him no less apprehensive about the possibility of having to sing in front of the squad by way of initiation.
“I’ll fit in well with the players,” said the former Auxerre and SC Freiburg player. “The only one I know here is Odsonne. There are a lot of faces and I will remember them quickly. I hope they don’t make me sing tonight.
“Hopefully that will be next week because I don’t have a song in mind. I will think about it this afternoon and we will see!”