Celtic must join reported hunt for defender dubbed as new Sergio Ramos at title-holders
COMMENT
One area of the squad that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers must improve in the summer is at the heart of defence and the Scottish champions must aim add Partizan centre-back Svetozar Markovic to their shopping list for the upcoming transfer window.
Serbian news outlet Sport Blic has reported that Manchester United are in the hunt to sign Markovic, 18, after breaking into the Serbian title-holders' first-team in recent weeks.
Markovic has been dubbed as the new Sergio Ramos after showing great potential in his first two league outings for Partizan.
He helped keep clean sheets against Cukaricki and Radnik as he completed 90 minutes on both occasions.
Serbia has been a hotbed for top European talent and that is something that Celtic must get on board with as soon as possible.
Although it is Man United that are chasing Markovic, the Bhoys have a massive chance to put themselves in pole position by being able to pretty much guarantee him more first-team opportunities as well as silverware.
Champions League football is also a certainty at Parkhead next season with the Scottish Premiership title all but in the bag.
Markovic is young so there may be some risk, but the Serbian teenager would be a massive investment for the future and could potentially push the likes of Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata much in the same way that Kristoffer Ajer has.
The Serbian centre-back has been dubbed as the next Ramos, but he could be Celtic's next Virgil van Dijk.