Celtic given ‘encouragement’ as fourth Jakob Breum bid is submitted
Celtic’s pursuit of Go Ahead Eagles winger Jakob Breum hinges on their qualification for the Champions League, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about the 21-year-old’s potential move to Celtic Park.
Celtic have already lost Nicolas Kuhn to Como in a £17million sale and Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen out wide, with three bids made for the Denmark youth international already this summer.
Go Ahead Eagles have Europa League football to look forward to next season and have rejected all three of Celtic’s offers, with sources telling Football Insider that none have come close to their £5m valuation.
Breum produced 11 goals and six assists last season as Go Ahead finished seventh in the Eredivisie and won the KNVB Cup, and Football Insider sources have said he’s “refused to close the door” on a move to Celtic.
The Dane has said “we will wait and see what happens” when discussing his future, and sources have told Football Insider that Celtic’s next bid may only come if and when their Champions League place is secured.
Champions League football key for Celtic’s Breum hopes
Football Insider revealed last month that Celtic were planning two new attacking signings after the departures of Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi previously, but they’re head to complete that headline addition.
Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke said that although Breum has left the door open to a potential exit this summer, Celtic are yet to make a bid which meets his £5m valuation at Go Ahead.
“They’ve had three bids now rejected for Breum, Go Ahead Eagles are being very stubborn in what they want”, he told Football Insider.
“If they’re to let him go, they want around £5million – the three bids so far haven’t got anywhere near that.
“For Celtic, a lot will depend on if they qualify for the league phase of the Champions League like they did last season – that will give them more financial clout to go and maybe make an improved bid for Breum.
“The positive thing for Celtic right now is that he’s refused to close the door on a potential move away and said; ‘we will wait and see what happens’.
“When a player says that, it does give you hope that maybe a deal could happen.”
Rodgers’ frustrations to continue despite strong Celtic
Celtic’s domestic season did get off to a winning start with their late victory over St. Mirren on 3 August, but attention will soon turn to the Hoops’ Champions League play-off round qualifiers later this month.
Beating Kairat or Slovan Bratislava over two legs to reach the league phase will facilitate an improved bid for Breum, but that may mean waiting until the very end of the transfer window to secure a top target.
Rodgers has already grown frustrated at Celtic’s lack of transfer activity with their £17m windfall from Kuhn’s exit yet to translate into new signings, and though Breum would be a shrewd addition, his move needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.
