Exclusive: Celtic set sights on Andrej Ilic ahead of January
Celtic have joined the race to sign Union Berlin forward Andrej Ilic ahead of January, sources have told Football Insider.
The Serbia international, 25, is also wanted by Premier League outfit Burnley as they work on bolstering their survival hopes.
Celtic are also exploring the market for attacking players and Ilic is firmly on their radar going into the winter window.
He can play at centre-forward as well as wide right, and has provided eight assists, as well as scoring a goal, in 16 appearances across all competitions this season.
Ilic has a contract at Union Berlin that runs until the summer of 2027.
Celtic keen for attacking reinforcement as Wilfried Nancy era kicks off
Football Insider revealed on Saturday that Wilfried Nancy is expected to be sacked if Celtic do not win their next two matches.
The Frenchman arrived at Parkhead just over two weeks ago, but has suffered a difficult start to life in the Scottish Premiership.
After four consecutive losses, including defeat in the Scottish League Cup final, Celtic looked to have made a big mistake in hiring Nancy.
But Sunday’s victory over Aberdeen was, finally, a step in the right direction, and something that the Bhoys can build off.
Celtic are planning to invest in their squad in the winter transfer window, with Ilic emerging among their priority options.
What type of player is Andrej Ilic?
Ilic joined Union Berlin in the summer, joining from Lille in a deal reportedly worth around £4million after he had spent the previous season on loan.
The Serbia international enjoyed his first stint in Germany, scoring seven goals across just 16 Bundesliga appearances.
| Andrej Ilic | Bundesliga 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 14 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 3.68 |
| Chances created | 15 |
| Duels won | 64 |
A target from crosses, Ilic made a name for himself in the Norwegian and Latvian top flights, where he scored 30 goals across 54 games of the 2022-23 season.
Injuries have blighted the 25-year-old in recent seasons, but he remains a strong target man, often pinning his defender to pick up the ball and progress play.
Ilic had started the season in superb fashion for Steffen Baumgart’s team, picking up a hat-trick of assists in a chaotic 4-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in September.
But in recent weeks, the striker has fallen behind Scotland international Oliver Burke in the pecking order.