Sources: Celtic submitting new Zinedin Smajlovic bid as deal advances
Celtic are “expected” to submit a new offer for Sandefjord’s Zinedin Smajlovic, sources have told Football Insider.
Discussions are “ongoing” between the two clubs, with the Hoops very keen to get a deal done for the 22-year-old centre-back.
This comes after Celtic saw a £3.5million bid rejected for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who is currently playing in the 2026 World Cup, earlier this week.
Celtic are looking to bolster their centre-back options, and Smajlovic is believed to be high on their list of targets.
However, the deal is far from straightforward, with Olympiacos, Hull City, Lyon and Toulouse also interested in the defender.
Smajlovic has made 10 appearances so far in the 2026 Eliteserien season, with the club currently eighth in the division.
How good is Zinedin Smajlovic?
Smajlovic has earned a big reputation in the Norwegian league in recent years.
Thanks to his performances in the 2025 campaign, he earned a spot in the Eliteserien Team of the Season after he made 26 appearances, scoring 2 goals and picking up 2 assists.
His stats are also highly impressive, which has likely helped to attract the interest of Celtic this summer transfer window.
According to Fotmob on 26 June, he has averaged, 0.10 assists, 1.30 successful dribbles, 6.02 duels won, 1.81 tackles, 1.30 blocked shots, 8.23 recoveries and 0.40 clean sheets per 90 minutes so far in the 2026 Eliteserien season.
Therefore, Celtic will be hoping that these stats can be replicated in the Scottish Premiership if they are able to get a deal over the line for the defender in the coming months.
Which other centre-backs are Celtic linked to?
Football Insider has exclusively revealed that George Campbell is interested in a possible move to Celtic this summer transfer window.
The West Bromwich Albion centre-back has been linked with a move to the Hoops, and is believed to be one of many defensive options the club are considering.
However, a difficult for the US international could also be tricky, with clubs in the Bundesliga and the Championship also eyeing a deal this summer.
Celtic struggled defensively in the 2025-26 campaign, with Martin O’Neill clearly aiming to solve this issue ahead of the new season.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen who the Hoops will look to bring in over the coming months as they aim to defend their Scottish Premiership title.