Louis Munteanu transfer cover broken as Celtic told Balikwisha's private feelings amid 'ridiculous' left back offer
Cluj boss Dan Peterescu has branded Louis Munteanu "irreplaceable" following reports of a £6.9million bid from Celtic
The Scottish Premiership champions are keen to sign a striker despite the incoming arrivals of Shin Yamada - but Brendan Rodgers' declared the club would like to add even more firepower.
The Hoops have lost both Nicolas Kuhn to Como and Kyogo Furuhashi in the last six months - and Rodgers insists he needs to replaced the goals that have been lost since January.
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.
Cluj owner Nelutu Varga told Sport Pesurse: "I have clearly said that Louis Munteanu will only leave if someone pays 18 million euros. I am not discussing anything else."
And Peterescu is keen to keep the frontman who netted 25 goals last term. He said: "Louis Munteanu will be almost irreplaceable. If we get a player who scores that many goals, it means we won the lottery."
Royal Antwerp wide man Michel-Ange Balikwisha is top of Celtic's list to replace the Kuhn after his move to Como
Sporting director Marc Overmars has declared that he will only sell the winger for the right price - but reports suggest that a deal could be done with the Belgian outfit in dire need of a financial boost.
Speaking to Off the Underside, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claimed that the wide man has given Celtic an "indication" he would like to join the club this summer after long-standing interest.
Celtic have also been credited with an interest in Manchester United misfit Tyrell Malacia as they search for a new left-back.
After Greg Taylor's departure, the boss is looking to add competition for Kieran Tierney. Celtic had shown interest in taking the Netherlands international on loan in January,
Reports suggest that after United need to sell him for £3.22million to avoid a loss under the profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
It is claimed the club willing to accept that lowball bid due to the lack of interest so far this summer - and former United striker Teddy Sheringham has branded the situation "ridiculous."
He told Sky Bet: 'It's very easy to spend money on players, but it's hard to recoup it.
'It seems quiet, but I bet there's lots going on behind the scenes at Manchester United. Other clubs know United's position.
'They've made it known that they're looking to sell around five players, which signals to other clubs to make them ridiculous offers.
'I would assume that's what football clubs are doing around Europe, and Manchester United are turning them down at the moment.
'The longer that goes on, I reckon those offers might be a little less ridiculous, but United want these players off the books – they've made their bed and they've got to lie in it.
'They'll probably take anything from a quarter to a fifth of their asking price for some of them.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Ben Doak stars for Liverpool in pre-season with youngster earning rave reviews before key Scotland fixtures
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BEN DOAK burst onto the Scottish national scene last year as Steve Clarke brought the youngster into the fold. But the Liverpool star who was on loan at Middlesbrough last campaign had his season cut short by injury. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Ben Doak is back firing for Liverpool this pre-season Credit: Getty 3 Which will be music to the ears of the Tartan Army Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 He squeezed the ball into the net from this tight angle against Athletic Bilbao Credit: CBS SPORTS GOLAZO Rumours have been swirling this summer about a potential Liverpool exit for the ex-Celtic youngster, with Merseyside rivals Everton linked with the winger. But Doak has been involved heavily in Arne Slot's pre season even starting Monday night's clash with Athletic Bilbao. The winger impressed in his 56 minute showing against the Reds European opposition. He played a crucial part in helping Liverpool go into a two nil lead early on, putting a key cross in to the box which Darwin Nunez eventually finished off. The young Scotsman also thought he ended up on the score sheet as his strike ended up in the back of the net, but it went down as an own-goal. Despite not officially making it on the score-sheet, Liverpool fans raved about the youngster's performance on social media. Liverpool posted an image of the youngster on X, and fans made their feelings known in the replies. "I have a LOT of faith in Ben Doak" one fan replied. Another added: "Our future's extremely bright." "It was a cross good approach play by him, direct, making things happen," said another. COFFEE CLUB Has Ben Doak been mishandled by Scotland manager Steve Clarke? A fourth supporter called him a "special talent". A Celtic fan also replied, pleading to Doak's former club to snap the youngster up on a loan deal. He featured just twice for the Hoops before his move to Liverpool, one of those appearances coming in an Old Firm. But he has heavily impressed for Scotland, and has picked up six caps for his country. In a squad that lacks wide players, Ben Doak is exactly the type of player that Steve Clarke needs. And the Tartan Army will be relieved to see the electric winger back firing for the Reds. Scotland have key World Cup qualifiers coming up this year, starting with games against Denmark and Belarus in September. With his pre-injury form for Scotland, many fans will be calling for the youngster to be thrown straight back into Steve Clarke's starting 11. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
‘He gets it' – Inside Barry Ferguson's first phone call with new Rangers boss Russell Martin
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BARRY FERGUSON has revealed how his first conversation went with new Rangers boss Russell Martin. Ferguson stepped into the Rangers hot seat after the Ibrox club dismissed Belgian boss Philippe Clement. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Barry Ferguson has revealed some details on his first chat with successor Russel Martin Credit: Alamy 2 Ferguson has backed Martin, despite dropping points in the league opener Credit: PA He took charge of the club for three months and wanted the job on a full time basis after his interim spell. But the new Ibrox chiefs opted to look elsewhere, which Ferguson was supposedly left disapointed about. But now he has publicly backed his successor to do well at Ibrox, despite dropping points in the first game of the season away to Motherwell at the weekend. Ferguson has joined back up with his Go Radio colleagues, and on Monday night's football show he has provided an insight into how his first chat with Russell Martin went. Speaking on the show, Ferguson said: "I like the way he speaks to the press, I've spoke to him privately and it was the first time I spoke to him. "I came off the phone with him and I was impressed by him. "He gets it, he understands it, I think if something doesn't go right he'll go and fix it." Russell Martin was left disappointed with his players after they conceded a late equaliser to Motherwell which made it three seasons in a row without an opening day win. After the game, he told Sky Sports: "We were very lucky to get a point. "I'm extremely disappointed and hurt by that. Motherwell and Rangers fans displays ahead of Premiership opener "They were braver than us, they were more aggressive than us, and I've said to the players, I've been really honest with them - there is a default here at this football club." He continued by adding: "Some of them have to drop their ego. I will look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it, but today, it's not really tactical, it's a mentality problem. "And we got more than what we deserved, actually. "If players aren't ready to step up then they will be left behind." Rangers have added Oliver Antman from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday. But Martin will have to wait and see if their new man will be registered in time for the match against Viktoria Plzen this week. The Gers will be without Hamza Igamane and Thelo Aasgaard for the first leg as they both miss out with injury. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Luke McCowan vows Celtic are ready for Champions League test
The Scottish champions found out their potential opponents in the draw in Nyon earlier today, and will play the first leg of the tie at home on the midweek of 19/20 August before the return tie a week later on the midweek of August 26/27, with the exact dates and kick off times yet to be confirmed. Celtic hammered Slovan Bratislava by five goals to one in the opening match of last season's group phase, the start of a largely impressive showing in the competition by Brendan Rodgers' men last term. Despite some misgivings from supporters around the strength of the squad and the lack of summer business to date this time around, McCowan – who bagged a late winner in Sunday's Premiership opener against St Mirren - is convinced that his side will be more than prepared to show they can have another successful season in Europe's top competition. "I'm sure we will be,' McCowan said. 'I mean if you were to ask us if we played it this midweek, I'm sure we'd all be ready. So, it makes no difference being in two weeks. If anything, I think we'll be more prepared. 'It's brilliant. The qualifiers are what you want to do. Obviously, it would be easier if you're just going straight into it. (Image: Andrew Milligan - PA) 'But when those games come around, it's about embracing it and knowing what the challenge is going to be. "You're coming up against opponents that aren't from here and I'm sure the boys are up for it. "I think we showed that [we belong in the league phase] last year, it's about proving it again. There's always a demand for more at this club. Read more: "The more games under our belt within the season, the quicker we'll get up to speed and the performance levels will hopefully get us points on the board throughout the Champions League phases and the qualifiers, so we just need to keep performing well. "It's an old cliche but Aberdeen next Sunday again, you hit that with a good performance, then you go into the qualifiers feeling ready, feeling up to scratch and you want to go into them as positive as you can." Celtic will be strongly fancied to progress through the qualifying tie, with the players more than aware that crashing out of the Champions League at this stage would be viewed as a disaster for the club. But McCowan is confident they can handle that pressure. "These players play under massive pressure all the time,' he said. 'I keep repeating it, but it's what playing at this club takes. You need to be ready for that pressure, you need to have your chest out, your head high and go and show that you're a Celtic player. "That's what it demands and that's what a manager wants. Pressures in a game hopefully bring out your best qualities." McCowan was delighted then that his strike against a stuffy and well organised St Mirren outfit at the weekend helped Celtic avoid getting their season off on a bum note, and he hopes that the performance level as well as the win will keep the momentum and the feelgood factor flowing going into a crucial part of the club's season, even in these early knockings of the campaign. 'Your performance levels are always the thing you look at the most,' he said. "Even if you came away from that game at 0-0, you know your performance level was good, you know you created so many chances in the game. (Image: Andrew Milligan - PA) "But the thing that you come away from after the game with a good performance is the three points and the boys are chuffed with that. 'It's just one of those ones, you want to create energy, you want to create positivity when you're coming off the bench and I think at the point we made the changes, they probably needed it. Some fresh legs, stuff like that, so that's what the squad's there for. 'It feels good. Good to start the season off with a win. It's always important to go off to a good start. "It's what you're here to do. You're here to score goals and help the team win games. "[I thought the performance was] brilliant. We had a ton of chances, we had enough chances to go and win probably two football matches. Really unlucky with a few hitting the post, obviously a goal chopped off as well. "Listen on another day, you probably come away scoring two or three, maybe more. But at the end of the day, it's three points and that's what we're glad with. 'You have a good pre-season, you work really hard, obviously away in different countries and whatever, getting your fitness levels high. It's about coming into the game [on Sunday] and implementing that and let that carry on throughout the games to come. "You've got Champions League qualifiers to come and it's just about the next step, the next game, the next performance. The boys know that and it's just about staying level-headed with that. 'There's always more to come. There's always a demand for more here. You could come away winning five and six-nil in games and you probably think it should be seven or eight. "It's just what this club demands. I'm sure through each game the performances will get better and even if there are disappointments, it's how we react to that, and I'm sure we'll do just that."
