Louis Munteanu breaks Celtic transfer silence as striker names exactly when 'necessary' change will happen
In-demand Louis Munteanu insists he is happy at Cluj amid a reported £6.9million bid from Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers has admitted he is keen to add more firepower to this summer despite the incoming arrival of Shin Yamada.
And reports in Romania claim that the the Hoops have seen an offer of just under £6.9million booted out by the Transylvania based club - with the club holding out for a £15.5million.
Having netted 25 goals last season, the Romania international got his season off to a scoring start in the Europa League qualifiers on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old scored late on in the 3-0 first leg win over Paks, and said after the game: "I'm glad I came back in style, I'm happy for the team's victory, for the three goals scored and, most importantly, that we didn't concede a goal.
"It was clear in the first half that they also have quality, but I don't think they are above us. I'm glad we managed to qualify, we had to do it, because we were the better team."
Pressed on interest this summer with Lille and Nice also said to have expressed an interest, he said: "I don't know, you have to ask the team owner.
"I don't know anything. Until there's something concrete, I'm not interested in words. I was behind in training, I'm fine now, I'm back and I think it was a little obvious that I'm not doing well.
"I want to play in the Romanian championship, for the moment. When it will be necessary for me to go, we will see.
"These things are beyond me. I feel very good here, I was appreciated from the first minute. I am a happy player here"
As it stands, it appears a change in Cluj's stance would be the only thing that changes Munteanu's exit stance this summer.
But Cluj owner Nelutu Varga is bullish about the chances of keeping the player in the Romania press.
He said amid reports of a bid from Celtic: "I have clearly said that Louis Munteanu will only leave if someone pays €18million (£15.5million.) I am not discussing anything else."
And boss Dan Petrescu is also desperate to keep the talisman at the club for next season.
He said after the Europa League win: "Louis Munteanu will be almost irreplaceable. If we get a player who scores that many goals, it means we won the lottery."
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
Angels, Rangers meet again, eye wild-card position
July 30 - Heading into a 13-game homestand, it appeared the Los Angeles Angels would be sellers at Thursday's trade deadline, with veteran closer Kenley Jansen drawing significant interest. But after splitting four games with the Seattle Mariners and taking the first two of three against the Texas Rangers, those plans appear to be on hold, and Jansen is a major reason why. The Angels and Rangers will meet again Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif. On Tuesday, Jansen became the first Angels closer since Huston Street in 2016 to record a save in three consecutive games, after he pitched a scoreless ninth in an 8-5 win. It was the 20th save of the season for Jansen and the 467th of his career. The Angels moved within four games of the Mariners for the final wild-card spot in the American League, thanks to their first three-game winning streak since June 23-25. "This is huge. We need this," Jansen said after Tuesday's game. "I know we're fighting for a wild-card spot. We need to come back and keep playing like this. There's plenty of games left, and I believe in this team, and I think we can make it." The Angels will send out Jose Soriano (7-7, 3.79 ERA) to try to complete the series sweep on Wednesday. Texas will counter with fellow right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (8-3, 1.50), who is seeking his 100th career victory. Eovaldi is 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 career appearances (13 starts) against Los Angeles, including a 13-1 win on July 8 in Anaheim that saw him allow one unearned run on five hits over six innings while striking out six. Eovaldi is 4-0 with an 0.38 ERA in four starts in July. He has allowed just one earned run and 15 hits over 23 2/3 innings while striking out 26. Soriano is 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against Texas. He is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA in two starts this season against the Rangers, giving up eight runs on 13 hits and seven walks in 9 2/3 innings. Yoan Moncada hit a two-run, pinch-hit single to highlight a four-run sixth inning Tuesday to fuel the 30th comeback win of the season for Los Angeles. Jo Adell went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs and an RBI. Zach Neto doubled, was hit by a pitch twice, stole two bases, scored a run and also had an RBI for the Angels. Texas pitchers walked seven batters and also hit four. Neto and Mike Trout were hit on back-to-back at-bats by reliever Shawn Armstrong in the eighth. That resulted in Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery gesturing and yelling at the Rangers' dugout as he walked along the first base line while checking on Trout's left hand. Both benches then emptied but were quickly separated. "The only thing I said was, 'How many times are you going to hit a guy?'" Montgomery said. "I wasn't insinuating that they were doing it intentionally by any means." Catcher Kyle Higashioka, playing his first game in a week due to a hamstring strain, went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Rangers, who stand one game behind the Mariners in the race for the AL's final wild-card spot. "Terrific game by him," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "We did do some good things offensively. (But) pitching, hitting batters and walks just caught up with us." Texas fell to 22-32 on the road, the worst road mark in the American League West. --Field Level Media
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Celtic to finish top of pile' - but concern about Rodgers & transfers
As the new season kicks off this Sunday, it's hard not to feel a mix of both frustration and lack of meaningful first-team signings so far has been disappointing, especially with clear areas still needing fans we expected more urgency in the transfer market, and - Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren aside - the silence has only added to the said, there's still a strong sense of belief in the core squad and our ability to once again have a successful campaign however, may be a different Brendan Rodgers we have a manager who we trust to get results where it matters most, but the lack of backing (so far!) leaves us wondering what the man himself must be thinking.A strong start on Sunday against St Mirren would help settle some nerves, but some quality reinforcements wouldn't go amiss the meantime, here are our big predictions for the 2025-26 season:Where will you finish in the league and why?Celtic will once again finish top of the pile, making it 14 titles from the last 15 available. Put simply, Rodgers doesn't know how NOT to win this league and will ensure we do so once again - whether he's here next season or is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?It simply has to be Tierney. For us to secure the signing of a player who has spent his past six years with Arsenal and is still just 28 years of age is outrageous. Celtic have no right to sign a player of KT's calibre and it's clear his passion for the club has been the deciding factor here. To see him walking out this weekend on flag day will be a massive moment for do you want from your manager this season?Domestic success, progress in Europe, and his signature on a contract extension running beyond the end of this will be the breakout star in your squad?From a homegrown point of view, there are high hopes for young Dane Murray at centre-half, but that aside this could (and will!) be a massive season for Arne Engels. Time for Celtic's £11m man to is your one major concern?That the longer it goes unresolved, the uncertainty around Rodgers' long-term future may cause unrest among both fans and players alike. He is vital to everything Celtic do and the sooner this one is resolved the can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gray on 'favourites' Midtjylland, record home support & Triantis
Head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before Hibs' Europa League second-round qualifier second leg against Midtjylland on Thursday are the key points:Gray says "all we could hope for" after the first leg was to still be in the tie and the "players can take a lot of confidence from last game".But he has been "quick to remind them" it is only the halfway point in the tie and it will "not become easier because it's at home".The head coach has stressed the need to at least replicate the level of their away performance against a "top team" that competes in the Champions expects Midtjylland to arrive full of confidence after their 6-2 win on Monday evening over Sonderjyske, and all of the squad are "well aware" of the challenge they will face.A record home crowd is expected at Easter Road on Thursday evening, with Gray saying: "These are the nights you want, this is why you do it"."The support around the club right now is a reflection of how well the group's done," he adds. "There is a feel-good factor at the club right now".Gray has warned his players that "the challenge doesn't get easier from our point of view, they're still favourites because of who they are" and Hibs must be at their "absolute best" if they want to reports suggesting Nectar Triantis won't be returning, Gray says the club aren't putting all their effort into one player and they are "constantly looking to see what can be done to improve the squad".
