CELTIC have stepped up their chase for £4million-rated Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet.
The Hoops sealed Ange Postecoglou’s first signing for the club with Sheffield Wednesday’s Osaze Urhoghide agreeing a four-year deal after interest in the 19-year-old defender was made public, as CQN reported yesterday.
However, the Parkhead club are eager to bring in more new signings as the crucial Champions League second round qualifier against FC Midtjylland edges to within 18 days.
Leigh Griffiths was also given the opportunity to revive his seven-and-a-half-year Celtic career when Postecoglou activated the remaining 12 months on his contract.
Fresh faces will be urgently sought during a summer revamp after last season’s disappointing trophyless campaign and work has begun on establishing the cost of bringing Nisbet to the east end of Glasgow, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Championship outfit Birmingham City had a £3.2million offer rejected at the turn of the year and the Midlands side are weighing up a new bid during this transfer window. Newly-promoted Brentford are showing an interest and second-tier Swansea and Nottingham Forest are also monitoring the situation.
The Easter Road side ARE willing to talk to would-be suitors, but are in no rush to part with the 24-year-old boyhood Hoops fan who joined the Edinburgh outfit from Dunfermline a year ago.
Nisbet gave Celtic a close-up view of his finishing skills in January when he scored a stoppage-time goal in the 1-1 draw against the Covid-hit line-up who had led with a strike from David Turnbull.
The powerful frontman was a late substitute in all three of Scotland’s Euro 2020 games against Czech Republic, England and Croatia, but was denied time to make a significant impact.
Nisbet could be offered that platform at Parkhead with Postecoglou more than aware of the player’s qualities.
