CELTIC have made a £3million offer for Swedish international centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke, according to reports.
The 23-year-old Elfsborg defender has been targeted by Brendan Rodgers as a replacement for Carl Starfelt who is expected to seal his exit this week in a £5million move to Celta Vigo.
Lagerbielke is seen as one of Sweden’s top prospects and made his international debut earlier this year.
Now the towering back-four operator is on the verge of a dramatic switch to Parkhead in a five-year deal, according to sports media outlet Expressen who state the Scottish champions have already made a bid for the player which would be a record sale for Elfsborg.
CHEERS AND CHEERIO…Carl Starfelt, in what could be his last Celtic appearance, congratulates Matt O’Riley after his goal in the 4-2 win over Ross County on Saturday.
Rodgers is wasting no time in strengthening his squad after admitting Starfelt may have played his final game for the Hoops in the 4-2 Premiership opener against Ross County at the weekend, as CQN reported.
The Swede, 26, is heading for La Liga two years after his £4.2million arrival from Russian outfit Rubin Kazan.
Lagerbielke could become the second central defender to join the club in a fortnight after the £4.3million deal for Maik Nawrocki from Legia Warsaw late last month.
The German-born Pole made his competitive debut in the victory over Malky Mackay’s side at the weekend with Starfelt starting on the bench before coming on for the new Bhoy in the 67th minute.
Lagerbielke is being lined up to be the treble winner’s sixth signing of the summer as he follows Nawrocki, Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, Australian international winger Marco Tilio and South Korean duo Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeok-kyu to Parkhead.
