Celtic could miss out on Jakob Breum deal thanks to Rangers
Rangers’ own activity may have scuppered Celtic’s chances of signing Go Ahead Eagles winger Jakob Breum, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Celtic’s continued pursuit of the 21-year-old Dane.
Breum scored 11 goals and added six assists for Go Ahead last season as they won the KNVB Cup and finished seventh in the Eredivisie, and Celtic have identified him as one of their top targets this summer.
Football Insider revealed on 9 August that Celtic have already seen three bids rejected for Breum as Go Ahead hold firm on their £5million valuation, but the winger has left the door open to a possible transfer.
However, the Dutch side could slam that door shut on Breum’s potential exit, particularly after they sold their other star winger Oliver Antman to Rangers on 4 August in a huge blow to Celtic’s transfer hopes.
Sources have told Football Insider that Antman’s £3m move to Rangers, as well as qualification for the Europa League group phase, leaves Go Ahead Eagles in a position where they don’t need to sell Breum at all this summer.
Antman and Rangers land hammer blow to Celtic transfer plans
Celtic could greenlight a deal for Yang Hyun-Jun to join Norwich City if they do complete the signing of Breum, but that too will hinge on qualification for the Champions League and Go Ahead’s transfer stance.
Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke said the Eredivisie side are in no rush to sell Breum after Antman‘s own move to Ibrox, and that leaves Celtic with a decision to make on his £5m transfer fee.
“They’ve had three bids rejected, [Breum] is a long-term target and Celtic will be hoping they can get a deal over the line”, he told Football Insider.
“That move might have been complicated by Rangers having signed Antman from Go Ahead Eagles, so Go Ahead don’t really need to sell right now.
“They’ve already sold one of their best players to Rangers, and they don’t really need the money either – they’ve got the Europa League group stages to look forward to.”
Celtic’s shortcomings laid bare as Rangers gain upper hand
The immediate impact made by Antman in Rangers’ European win over Viktoria Plzen will only strengthen Go Ahead’s resolve to keep Breum, with Celtic hopeful that he could have a similar impact at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers has been adamant that new recruits are needed at Celtic Park and his pleas have been underlined by Nicolas Kuhn‘s transfer to Como, which brought in a £17m fee that is yet to be re-invested.
Celtic’s continued inability to replace Kyogo Furuhashi has also been a source of frustration for Rodgers, and while the Hoops remain the team to beat in Scotland, things need to get moving in Glasgow in order for their Champions League bid to succeed.