JULLIEN REVEALS TWIN TARGETS

CELTIC’S £7million new Bhoy Christopher Jullien has set his sights on nine in a row – and making a massive impact in Europe.

The towering 6ft 5in central defender sealed his big-money switch from Toulouse when he penned a four-year contract, as CQN reported yesterday.

Jullien, a former Under-20 World Cup winner with France, has become the Hoops second biggest signing after countryman Odsonne Edouard, who cost £10million when he arrived on a permanent basis from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

The 26-year-old centre-back knows he can make history within the next two seasons when the Parkhead men can clinch a record-breaking 10 successive titles.

Jullien, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “That’s really exciting. For now, we want to equal the nine. After that, we can see the next one.

“For now, I’ll just be focused on the nine, but it’s a good thing to have that focus of winning some trophies and having some legacy. It is a great moment.

NORWEGIAN GIANT…Kristoffer Ajer.

“When you start playing football, you are playing to win trophies and have a legacy.

“When I won the World Cup with France it was an excitement and good vibes and every footballer needs to have that.

“Since that time, it’s true I haven’t won trophies or been to finals and my experience in Germany with Freiburg was not good.

“I achieved a promotion in France, but didn’t win a trophy. It is really good now to be part of a team that wants to compete at the top of the league and not the low part.”

Jullien will fly to Austria tomorrow to join up with his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp.

He added: “The Champions League is a good goal. Every footballer must have it in mind when you join a club like this.

“Last year, Celtic came close to it and I really think we can do it this year.

“I want to bring something to the team and it would be the best if we could do it, because I hear so much about the Champions Leagues vibes around here. It would be really exciting.

“The first qualifier is close. I am going to join the team on Sunday and will be ready to be fit and bring everything I can to the club.”

Jullien spent three years with Toulouse, making over 100 appearances and scoring eight goals. He began his career with Auxerre before a three-year spell with Freiburg.

Manager Neil Lennon ditched 48th birthday celebrations on Tuesday to travel to Paris for a face-to-face meeting with the defensive colossus in an attempt to push through the move.

CROATION ACE…Jozo Simunovic.

The player added: “I appreciated that gesture from the manager. It told me a lot about his ambitions for the club and, of course, I want to be part of that.”

The Hoops boss said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring Christopher to Celtic. He is a quality player with great attributes and we are very much looking forward to him joining the squad and working with him.

“We’ve got a squad of great quality already here at the club, who have achieved incredible success over the past few seasons, but it’s always good to add further quality to the group and that’s what we’ve got with Christopher.

“I know the players will be delighted to welcome him into the squad, and I know he will be keen to play his part in the seasons ahead.”

Jullien will step into the position vacated by Dedryck Boyata who is on his way to Bundesliga mid-table outfit Hertha Berlin and could partner either Kristoffer Ajer or Jozo Simunovic in the middle of the rearguard.

Jack Hendry, bought from Dundee for £1.3million in January 2017, is also hoping to play a role following his false start at Parkhead.