Scottish champions Celtic are currently flying high under manager Ange Postecoglou, with the Old Firm outfit currently well-placed to retain their league title crown amid what has been an imperious start to the domestic season.

Despite that rampant form, the Parkhead giants are still seemingly keen to strengthen in the January transfer window, with one potential priority position that of central midfield, with the Hoops eyeing a quality addition in the centre of the park.

Amid that search for a new playmaker, the Glasgow side may well be kicking themselves at previously missing out on a man who could well have filled that void, with Croatia international Lovro Majer having seemingly been a target for the club a few years ago.

Reports back in 2017 claimed that the Hoops were eyeing a move for the emerging talent, with the then-youngster said to be available for a fee of just £750k, while further speculation a year later suggested that the Scottish Premiership side were again interested in landing the creative gem from Lokomotiva - this time for a fee of around £1.5m.

As it proved, the 5 foot 9 ace ultimately secured a switch to Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2018, with the attacking midfielder going on to record 44 goal involvements in just 99 games during his time at the club.

That sparkling form saw the "extraordinary" talent - as described by sports agent Juanma Lopez - seal a £10m switch to current side Stade Rennais in August 2021, with that move having proven particularly fruitful for the 24-year-old as he now has 20 goals and assists to his name in just 55 appearances across all fronts.

That hot streak has seen the £30k-per-week ace score twice and provide three assists in 19 games so far this season for the Ligue 1 outfit, while he also notably ranks in the top 2% in Europe's top five leagues for assists among those in his position, as well as in the top 8% for dribbles completed as a sign of his ball-playing quality.

Such has been Majer's rise since that previous link to Parkhead, the latest suggestion is that he could now be worth as much as €60m (£52m), with Premier League leaders Arsenal believed to be tracking his progress at present.

The Rennes sensation has further shown his quality on the international stage of late, having played his part in Croatia's promising start to the World Cup in Qatar, having featured in both group games at the tournament so far.

The 13-cap gem's latest outing against Canada on Sunday evening saw him make an impact off the bench for the 2018 finalists, lashing home in stoppage time to add further gloss to the scoreline for his side in that 4-1 thrashing.

That strike ensures that Majer now has four goals in just 13 games for his country at senior level to date, having even been tipped to emulate veteran teammate Luka Modric in the coming years.

As such, those back at Celtic Park may well feel they missed a trick not snapping up the player in the past.