There’s a reported transfer boost for Celtic in a bid to sign winger Mohamed Elyounoussi on a permanent deal.
The Daily Record are reporting that Celtic could land the winger on a permanent deal if they are willing to match the £9m they splashed out on Odsonne Edouard in June 2018.
It’s thought that the Norwegian international would be out of Celtic’s price range but reports unfounded claims that a deal to secure the services of Elyounoussi on a permanent deal from Southampton remains a possibility.
Back in 2018, Southampton secured the signing of the winger from Basel in a rumoured £16 million, but the actual figure is understood to be £12m plus add-ons, which are unlikely to be hit unless Elyounoussi forces his way back into the English Premier League team.
Forcing a move back to Southampton looks unlikely as the Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl himself sanctioned his loan to Celtic back in the summer and the club are keen to try and cut their losses and ship out players that are no longer in the club’s long-term plans.
Southampton would know that they are unlikely to recoup the fee they spent on Elyounoussi back in 2018 and it will end up as a case of trying to minimize any losses at this stage.
Meanwhile, sources close to the player in Norway, according to the Daily Record, have revealed that Elyounoussi’s wages are nowhere near the rumoured £65,000-a-week at St Mary’s – and his salary with Southampton is on a level with some of Celtic’s top-paid players.
The winger, who has seven goals for Celtic in 13 appearances, has already said he is happy at Celtic and that his future would be down to the two clubs to decide.
If Elyounoussi’s wages aren’t an issue for Celtic and are prepared to match the transfer record fee of £9m – the sum they paid Paris Saint-Germain to land Odsonne Edouard permanently – then the Norwegian winger could become the club’s next record signing.
