Gustav Isaksen branded a move to Celtic “boring” after the collapse of a move last summer.
But the Danish winger could be set for an abrupt change of heart with Lazio reportedly keen to offload Isaksen this month to fund their January activity – with the Hoops said to be maintaining their interest from the winter window. The Scottish Premiership leaders were touted with a move for the forward in the final days of the transfer window with a loan move with an option to buy reportedly knocked back.
But a winger appears to be on his way out of the Eternal City with Il Messaggero stating that Lazio chairman Claudio Lotito is open to a sale to free up cash for boss Marco Baroni to push for the Champions League places. It is said that the supremo doesn’t consider anyone “indispensable” – with Isaksen chipping in with three goals and three assists so far this season.
It is said that Brendan Rodgers’ side ‘continue to request’ a deal while Bologna are showing interest. The report claims that the club would like to complete a €15million (£12.5million) sale but are open to other ‘market scenarios’ including a loan with option to buy to ‘unlock the liquidity index and free up a place in the squad list.”
A move to Celtic for Isaksen would spark a remarkable turnaround for the wide man – after he bullishly committed himself to the Stadio Olimpico in September last year after shutting down a move to Glasgow’s east end. He explained: “It would be boring to have spent a whole year getting to know everything in Lazio to go somewhere new and then have to learn it all again.
“So I told my agent that even if something exciting comes along, I would like to stay with 99 percent certainty. I feel that I have the potential to become an important man down there.
“I had a bit of a hard time with the coach who was there before. We didn’t quite find each other, and I wasn’t quite the player he wanted. I think I did well, so it was a bit frustrating. After a new coach came in, it feels calmer. It seems that there are longer prospects with the coach we have now.”