CELTIC have offered a pre-contract deal to RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager.
The 28-year-old Austrian international will become a free agent when his contract at the Bundesliga club expires at the end of the season.
The German outfit admitted Schlager has knocked back the opportunity of signing an extension and will be leaving in the summer.
The centre-of-the-park performer has been linked with Italian giants Juventus while English clubs are allegedly also monitoring his situation, but local reports insist the Hoops are the only club to make a concrete offer for his services next season, according to the Scottish Sun.
ON THE MOVE…RB Leipzig powerhouse Xaver Schlager has attracted the attention of Celtic.
Schlager first caught the eye of the Parkhead club when he played a pivotal role against Celtic in the Champions League double-header in October 2022 when Leipzig won 3-1 at home and 2-0 in Glasgow.
The no-nonsense operator said: “My last three-and-a-half years at the club have been marked by several unforgettable moments.
“I feel very at home here, both at the club and within the team. That’s why I really appreciate the efforts the club and its management team have put into our discussions.
“But, ultimately, my desire is to experience and try something new. It wasn’t a rejection of RB Leipzig, but rather a decision to pursue something else.
“Anyone who knows me will know that I will give my all for this club, our fans and our shared goals until the final whistle of my last game.
“My priority is to close this chapter of my life at RB Leipzig in a positive way.”
The former RB Salzburg and Wolfsburg powerhouse is expected to win his 50th international cap next month and will be a key member of their squad for the World Cup, where Austria are scheduled to face Argentina, Algeria and Jordan.
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