Celtic’s bid to sign Jakob Breum has run into trouble after Go Ahead Eagles CEO Jan Willem van Dop said the Dutch club will only let one of their two wanted attackers go, Breum or Oliver Antman.
The Hoops have already had offers for Breum rejected, with van Dop saying they did not meet the club’s price. Rangers are believed to be keen on Antman, but the Dutch side want to keep at least one of the pair.
Van Dop made it clear, unless Celtic raise their bid a lot, Breum will not be moving to Glasgow this summer.
He said: (De Oosttribune), “Those are the guys who are in the spotlight. I think one of them will ultimately leave.
“There was a question (from FC Twente), and that was about Jakob Breum. That’s negotiable, but only if the price is right.
“And we couldn’t reach an agreement on that. What I did find positive was that his thoughts were certainly higher than the official offer Celtic ever made.
“I’ve told Celtic that we won’t be accepting their offer. I spoke to Breum’s agent on the phone Monday morning, and he hopes he’ll go that route.
“We’re certainly not the most difficult club, but it has to be a good fit.
“And if we can’t reach a financial agreement, we also have the right to say: well, it’s not going to happen.”
Celtic have kept their eye on Breum all summer, but with the Dutch club refusing to lower their demands, the Hoops must choose whether to move on or make a bigger bid. Van Dop’s words hint the player would like the move, but the gap in price is still a big problem.
The Dutch side’s position also makes things tricky for Rangers, who would face the same fight if they decide to go for Antman. With only one sale likely, the value of both players will probably stay high until the end of the window.
Breum, a Danish attacker who has shone since moving to the Netherlands, is viewed as a young talent who fits Celtic’s style of signing. But Go Ahead’s firm stance on the fee means the Scottish champions must be bold if they want him.
With the window running out of time, Celtic now have to decide if Breum is worth paying more for, or accept he will stay in the Eredivisie while they look at other options.
