Celtic at centre of strange Giorgi Kochorashvili transfer

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The Celtic Star

·3. April 2025

Celtic at centre of strange Giorgi Kochorashvili transfer

Celtic were at the centre of a strange transfer story in the Spanish media this week, where it was claimed that the club had forced Sporting Lisbon’s hand in announcing a transfer deal earlier than they had planned…

DORTMUND, GERMANY – JUNE 18: Giorgi Kochorashvili of Georgia celebrates after Georges Mikautadze of Georgia (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Turkiye and Georgia at Football Stadium Dortmund on June 18, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Celtic interest triggers transfer clause

The particulars of that deal involved Georgian midfielder, Giorgi Kochorashvili, who had been the subject of an approach from the Scottish Champions.

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It is claimed that Sporting had already agreed a deal in principle with Kocharshvili’s club Levante, which had been thought to be at a cheaper price, with the condition that if another club made an approach for the player, the Portuguese outfit would have to up the transfer fee to an initial €5.5 million (£4.6 million), with the potential for it to rise another €2 million (£1.7 million) in add-ons.

Giorgi Kochorashvili of Georgia crosses the ball whilst under pressure from Kenan Yildiz of Turkiye during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Turkiye and Georgia at Football Stadium Dortmund on June 18, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Unbeknown to Celtic

Unbeknown to Celtic, the report from Super Deporte states that the Scottish Champions made a pitch for the Georgian and in the process, triggered the Lisbon side to conclude the deal at a much higher price than they had initially planned. The defensive midfielder had attracted the interest of Brendan Rodgers and the Hoops recruitment team but appears to have been beaten to the La Liga based star with a deal that had been long in the works. The report roughly translates as follows:

Giorgi Kochorashvili of Georgia takea on Rodri of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Spain and Georgia at Cologne Stadium on June 30, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“Glasgow Celtic made a proposal over the weekend. And added, as they feel from the club, to the state of alert in which Sporting de Portugal entered after Danvila’s statements in Sin Tregua, where he assured that Giorgi Kochorashvili was not for sale, an operation that was signed throughout Monday was precipitated.”

Giorgi Kochorashvili of Georgia is challenged by Dani Olmo of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Spain and Georgia at Cologne Stadium on June 30, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Celtic clearly looking for a ball winning midfielder

It now looks like other targets will have to be pursued for that number six role in the central area of the pitch. The team has been starved of a ball-winning midfielder for too long and have struggled at times when the game plan or personnel needs to be changed up on certain occasions.

Maybe it will be Arne Engels mate Elvis Rexhbecaj

Bundesliga 12 Matchday FC Union Berlin FC Augsburg, v l Elvis Rexhbecaj FC Augsburg , Arne Engels FC Augsburg , 25 11 2023, Photo Sebastian Räppold/MatthiasxKoch

No doubt Brendan Rodgers will have other names in mind and have recently been linked with a move for Arne Engels’ former teammate Elvis Rexhbecaj, although it remains to be seen if that one has substance.

Paul Gillespie

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