“It Will Be A Battle…” Journalist Claims Celtic May Find It Tough To Keep Player From Clutches Of European Giants

“It Will Be A Battle…” Journalist Claims Celtic May Find It Tough To Keep Player From Clutches Of European Giants

Celtic will find it hard to keep hold of fullback Josip Juranovic if Atletico Madrid make a “big offer” for the Croatian this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Reports suggest that the La Liga side are weighing up a bid for the defender, having recently offloaded his international teammate Sime Vrsaljko to Olympiakos, who plays in the same position. O’Rourke believes Ange Postecoglou’s side may have to fight to retain the defender’s services:

“It will be a battle for Celtic to keep hold of him, especially if Atletico Madrid are in the market to try and sign the Croatian as well. It all comes down to price; if they put up a big offer, Celtic will, I’m sure, have to consider it.”

Juranovic only signed from Legia Warsaw for £2.5m last year, and he had an excellent first season in Scotland, so the Hoops will be extremely reluctant to let him leave.

In terms of finances, they are under no pressure to sell after qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League so, as O’Rourke says, Atletico would have to come up with a good enough offer to tempt the club into selling up.

There is believed to be interest in Juranovic from Premier League clubs as well, with Leicester having been mentioned as potential suitors, so Celtic may have to dig their heels in if they are to keep hold of the 26-year-old.

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.