Hammarby winger Sebastian Tounekti has spoken out after Celtic reportedly returned with a second bid to try and prise him away from Sweden.

The 23-year-old has emerged as a key transfer target late in the window, with Celtic stepping up their interest after an initial £2.5m offer was rejected.

Hammarby are understood to value the player closer to £3m, and reports in Stockholm claim Celtic are edging closer to that figure with their improved bid. Tounekti, who only joined Hammarby earlier this year, has quickly impressed with his energy and direct play on the wing.

The player was in action when Celtic’s Paul Tisdale reportedly scouted Hammarby at the end of July, sparking speculation about where the Hoops’ interest lay. Now it’s clear that Tounekti is very much on their radar, with Celtic pushing to bring him in before the window closes.

And the winger himself has admitted he is delighted by the interest, calling Celtic one of Europe’s top clubs and making it clear he sees the bid as recognition for his progress.

He said: (Fotbollskanalen), “It’s great that a big club that often plays in the Champions League wants me/

“You get to know some of what’s happening and I’ve heard that there is interest. It’s obviously great that a big club that often plays in the Champions League wants me.

“It’s a top club in Europe. It’s great that there’s such interest and it shows that they’ve done something good.”

For Celtic, the timing is hard to ignore. Tounekti was watched before the Champions League play-off with Kairat Almaty, but the first bid only came on August 27th, weeks after a poor European showing and fans turning on the board.

It follows a pattern we’ve seen before. Celtic spot players early, stall on action, and only move when the pressure mounts. That slow approach often makes deals more costly instead of securing them at the right price.

Fans will be glad to see a second offer, but patience is fading fast. The side badly needed new faces before Europe, and once again the club looks like it is scrambling for answers late in the window.

If Tounekti does sign, he’ll bring energy and drive to Brendan Rodgers’ attack. But the main question lingers: why leave it so late when the need was clear weeks earlier?