Go Ahead Eagles are set to hold firm on their £6million valuation of Celtic target Jakob Breum.
And the price tag for the Danish under-21 international is likely to increase if the Parkhead club reach the group stage of the Champions League in Kazakhstan next week.
Wednesday’s goalless draw with Kairat Almaty left hopes of advancing from the play-off round in the balance.
Chants of ‘Sack The Board’ rang out the stadium as supporters voiced their frustration over a lack of quality signings.
One report claims Celtic have ramped up their pursuit of the playmaker by holding fresh talks with Go Ahead chiefs over an agreement.
We understand that is NOT the case and that the last contact between the two parties was last month.
In the market for wide players after selling Nicholas Kuhn to Como for £17m and losing the services of the injured Jota until early next year, the Parkhead club opened with £1.5million last month.
Despite Celtic upping their original proposal to £1.75million plus add-ons, then putting £3million on the table, the Dutch Cup holders want £5million plus another £1million in bonus payments if Celtic reach the Champions League.
Preparing to compete in the group stages of the Europa League after beating AZ in last season’s KNVB Cup Final, Go Ahead fear a late scramble to secure a late Breum replacement.
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Unwilling to budge on their initial valuation the price is likely to increase if Brendan Rodgers’s side overcome their sluggish performance in Glasgow to overcome Kairat and take their place alongside the European elite.
PSV placed Breum high on their shortlist of summer signings before deciding to pay £15million for AZ’s Ruben van Bommel instead. Claiming their valuation is fair and realistic senior figures inside Go Ahead have told Celtic to take or leave their valuation.
Celtic plan to wrap up a £4.5million move for Antwerp’s Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, with obstacles at the player’s end delaying a final agreement.
It remains to be seen whether the capture of Balikwisha might end any lingering interest in Breum.
