£5m SPORAR

CELTIC will have to pay £5million if they hope to land striker Andraz Sporar from Slovan Bratislava.

The club’s vice-president Ivan Kmotrík has slapped the price tag on the head of the prolific hitman with Sporting Lisbon, Bristol City and a host of other clubs linked with the 26-year-old forward.

The Slovan supremo told Sportrevue:  “We’ve also received an offer from the Arab world and other countries.

“It is possible that Andraz will stay, but the offers are already at a level that would be interesting for the club.

“I don’t want to get into specifics, but if the transfer is completed, Sporar will certainly be the most expensive transfer out of Slovakia.”

The club appear to have already bought a replacement in the purchase of Alen Ozbolt, from Lokomotiv Plovdiv, but Kmotrik added: “Andraz has set the bar high and it will be difficult for any attacker to equal or even surpass him.

“No matter how the situation with Andraz develops, we do not want to say that Alen is his replacement.

“It’s up to him to show what he can do in the team and whether he can score goals. I believe Alen has the potential to do so.

“When compared to Andraz, he’s not as far along in his development but he can beat a man in the final third and is a very good finisher.”

A new frontman is a priority for Lennon as he prepares for the second half of a crucial season.

The champions are two points ahead at the top of the Premiership in their quest for nine in a row, but Steven Gerrard’s side, who won at Parkhead for the first time since 2010 in their 2-1 victory last month, have a game in hand.

The League Cup has been won for the fourth successive term and the holders take on Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup at Firhill on Saturday.