After Celtic’s first pre-season clash, Ange Postecoglou hoped that within a week, he’d have some signings to announce.

The new Hoops boss wasn’t telling a lie because they’ve been incredibly busy in the window this week.

What’s the word?

Celtic have bolstered their attacking ranks in recent days with the additions of Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi.

A move for Carl Starfelt is ongoing in the background, but the Bhoys are also working on a deal to sign Croatian winger Kristijan Lovric.

They’ve held an interest in the Gorica attacker before and even had a bid rejected in the winter of 2019/20. However, they have returned to the negotiating table and, according to reports, they have held talks with intermediaries over a move for the 25-year-old.

It could be a strange deal, though, with Celtic set to wait to see if they progress in Europe in order to afford the necessary £5m.

Big upgrade

With Celtic lacking genuine wide players, this would be an incredibly smart acquisition. Abada may have arrived but fellow wingers Mikey Johnston and James Forrest barely played last term, so there are rightful questions over their fitness.

[snack-amp-story url= "https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-news-doig-nketiah-mccann" title= "Read the latest Celtic transfer news!"]

Mo Elyounoussi has also headed for the exit door after the conclusion of his loan spell at Paradise, but either way, Lovric would be a tremendous signing. He is a rampant threat in the final third and is one of the most attack-minded wingers on the continent.

Capable of playing on the flanks or in a central position, Lovric scored 18 goals last term while setting up another seven for his teammates. That took his tally for Gorica to 44 during his time with the Croatian club.

He takes more shots at goal than 1,132 of 1,133 wingers in the Celtic Analysis database, which goes to show just how positive the 25-year-old tries to be.

The Croatia international doesn’t just possess goal-scoring abilities, either. Lovric is a particularly tricky player to combat when he’s running with possession, as HNTV commentator Damir Petravic once said: “He dribbles and scores in the style of Robben, shoots free throws like Pirlo or Pjanic, and knows how to sprint like Mbappe.”

His goal involvement tally was identical to Elyounoussi last term, which is important after they lost the Norwegian last month after his loan spell ended.

Crucially, he’s also a bigger threat than Johnston and possesses more experience than Karamoko Dembele. Furthermore, Lovric is more potent than Abada, who scored 13 times last season.

All things considered, he seems like he would be an undoubted upgrade for Postecoglou and co.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Furuhashi: Ange can form magic Celtic duo by signing "exciting" 21 y/o...