Report: Celtic close to midfielder transfer, £400,000 more and deal done
By Coral Barry
Celtic will not sell Stefan Johansen to Galatasary until their £1.5million asking price is met, according to a report.
Reports in Turkey this week said an agreement had been reached between the two clubs with Brendan Rodgers considering the midfielder surplus to the requirements.
The Daily Record now claim those reports are premature with the Hoops looking for £400,000 above what Galatasary have offered.
Johansen has a year left of his current contract and Celtic are keen to cash in on the midfielder rather than allow him to leave on a free next summer.
Celtic are claimed to have no desire to offer the 25-year-old a new contract and the Turkish giants are confident they can do a deal for Johansen after reportedly making a £1.1million bid.
The Norwegian was brought to the club by former manager Ronny Deila and has seen his Hoops career dwindle in a similar way.
Johansen won Scottish Player of the Year in his first season as a Hoop, but his form has since dropped off.
Regardless of his stop start season, he still managed four goals and nine assists from 40 appearances last campaign.
Celtic paid £2million for his services two years ago and are eager to recoup most of that investment.
Johansen is currently in Slovenia with the rest of the Celtic first-team as they prepare for their first competitive match next week.
Celtic are due to begin their quest for Champions League qualification, but it has yet to be confirmed whether they will play Flora Talinn or Lincoln Red Imps .