Celtic's Josip Juranovic is wanted by Barcelona, with two Premier League clubs and Atletico Madrid also monitoring the right-back; talks over a new deal between Celtic and Juranovic stalled before the player went to the World Cup in Qatar
Tuesday 20 December 2022 22:21, UK
Barcelona are interested in signing Celtic's Josip Juranovic in January, with one source telling Sky Sports News he is their number one target to fill the right-back position.
Two Premier League clubs and Barca's La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid are also looking at the Croatia international.
Celtic have wanted to keep Juranovic in Glasgow and held talks over an improved new contract. However, neither party could reach an agreement before he departed for the World Cup in Qatar.
The 27-year-old still has more than three-and-a-half years left on his current deal and it's understood Celtic will look to sit down with Juranovic again when he returns from his post-World Cup break next week, but the Scottish champions are braced for bids amid interest from the Premier League and clubs in Europe.
Juranovic was given a week off following Croatia's World Cup campaign and will be assessed for the injury, which kept him out of the third-place play-off win over Morocco on Saturday.
Celtic have already announced the signing of Canada right-back Alistair Johnston on a five-year deal.
The Hoops paid an initial fee of £3.5m for the CF Montreal defender, who will officially join the club in January.
Juranovic is in demand and there are suggestions defender Stephen Welsh could also leave in January, but Ange Postecoglou has insisted there have been no approaches for any of his players.
"All this speculation, let me tell you right now; we don't have an offer for any player," the Australian said.
"People can talk about offers and clubs wanting them but I can't spend my time chasing shadows or what's in the press every morning, because I'd be spending my whole day talking to players.
"As I keep saying to people, what I see is what's before me every day here at training. If there's an issue or players have things put in front of them about their future, I'm sure they'll come and see me and Michael (Nicholson, CEO) will speak to their representatives.
"But right now, there's nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nothing going on."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said last month that the club will still find it difficult to make January signings despite improving the health of their finances.
"We had to make some levers, which were economic operations that saved the club from ruin, and now the club is in economic recovery," he said.
"But despite that, according to the rules of financial fair play of the Spanish league, we cannot sign.
"Us and some other La Liga clubs are also trying to convince La Liga to be more flexible, and allow us other types of interpretations that can make Barcelona even stronger."
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