CELTIC are likely to miss out on Serbian youngster Srdjan Plavsic, with the winger due to undergo a medical with Czech side Sparta Prague today ahead of a £1.5million deal.
Brendan Rodgers had been keeping tabs on the 21-year-old – nicknamed the “Atomic Ant” due to his 5ft 5in frame – and was believed to be ready to make a move for the Red Star Belgrade attacker as a back-up for his principal target Paddy Roberts.
The Manchester City winger, who spent 18 months on loan at the Scottish Champions, is yet to make his mind up on the return ticket to Paradise that is on offer. If a deal with the player can be reached it will be the biggest transfer in Scottish football for well over a decade.
Lee Congerton, the Hoops’ Head of Recruitment, had been in Poland to watch Plavsic in action for the Serbian national team at the European Under-21 Championships, but, according to reports in his homeland, the player is now ready to move to the team that finished third in the Czech First League last season.
The youngster, who has been capped for the senior Serbian team, was being tracked by a host of clubs, including Swiss side Basle.
Rodgers has already recruited Aberdeen wide man Jonny Hayes and is hopeful of adding at least one more recruit in the coming days.
Celtic fly out to Austria today for their pre-season camp and play their first game against Linz on Wednesday ahead of matches with Rapid Vienna and Slavia Prague.
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