Celtic are reportedly closing in on Ermin Mahmic as the midfielder prepares to become Martin O’Neil’s latest major signing following an impressive breakthrough on the international stage.
The Bosnia midfielder has attracted significant attention after producing a series of impressive performances at this summer’s World Cup.
His performances have helped transform his reputation, with Celtic now reportedly prepared to make a substantial investment to bring him to the club.
Mahmic has already said his goodbyes at Slovan Liberec this week as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.
The proposed move is also expected to make him the Czech club’s record transfer sale.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Celtic are expected to pay an initial fee of around £6 million for the midfielder.
The overall value of the deal could eventually rise to approximately £7.5 million if the agreed add-ons and performance-related clauses are triggered.
The potential investment demonstrates how highly Celtic appear to rate Mahmic after closely monitoring his development.
The Hoops are understood to have watched the midfielder before he made his mark at the World Cup.
That means Celtic’s interest did not simply emerge because of his performances in North America, with the club apparently having followed his progress for some time.
Mahmic’s World Cup displays have nevertheless strengthened the case for Celtic to move quickly for his signature.
The midfielder finished the tournament as Bosnia’s leading scorer despite spending only 72 minutes on the pitch.
His ability to make an impact despite limited playing time has been one of the most impressive aspects of his tournament.
One of his goals came against Switzerland in a 4-1 defeat, with Mahmic producing a spectacular volley that was widely regarded as one of the standout goals of the group stage.
The quality of that finish showcased the midfielder’s technical ability and his confidence in front of goal.
Mahmic later found the net again against Qatar, adding another impressive moment to his World Cup campaign.
He completed a neat run before finishing the move to put the final touch on Bosnia’s victory.
Those performances have helped push Mahmic into the spotlight and attracted interest from clubs across Europe.
Celtic’s reported willingness to spend millions on him highlights just how dramatically his value has changed in a short period.
Only last summer, Mahmic was available on a free transfer after leaving his previous club.
His eventual move to Slovan Liberec turned out to be a major turning point in his career.
The midfielder developed quickly at the Czech club and eventually attracted attention from some of the biggest names in European football.
Marijan Zivkovic, the former chief scout of Serbian side Vojvodina, has revealed just how different Mahmic’s situation could have been.
Zivkovic explained that he had previously approached Mahmic and his father about the possibility of the player joining Vojvodina.
Mahmic’s father was reportedly immediately interested because he understood Vojvodina’s history and status as a major club from the former Yugoslavia.
However, the proposed move failed to progress after the family waited around ten days without receiving further communication.
Mahmic subsequently signed for Slovan Liberec on a free transfer, setting in motion the events that have led to his current situation.
Zivkovic has now reflected on the remarkable change in Mahmic’s value since that move.
The former scout pointed out that the player who was available for nothing is now worth millions and attracting attention from major European clubs.
Mahmic’s father also reportedly kept Zivkovic informed about the growing number of clubs interested in his son’s services.
Among the clubs mentioned were Besiktas, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.
The interest from those clubs demonstrates the level of competition Celtic could face in the transfer market.
RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg in particular have established reputations for identifying emerging talent and helping young players develop at the highest level.
Mahmic’s performances at the World Cup have only increased the attention surrounding him.
For Celtic, however, the reported agreement would represent a significant piece of business and could give the club another exciting midfield option.
His arrival is also expected to have consequences for the existing midfield options at Celtic.
Mahmic’s potential move could push Reo Hatete closer to the exit door as Celtic continue to reshape their midfield.
The club could also target additional midfielders as part of a wider effort to strengthen the squad.
That would make Mahmic’s arrival just one part of a potentially significant midfield rebuild.
Celtic’s interest in Mahmic is also similar to their approach with other players who have been identified before gaining wider recognition.
The club’s recruitment team appears to have been monitoring the midfielder before his World Cup performances made him a much more obvious name across Europe.
That could prove important if Celtic manage to complete the transfer before competition from other interested clubs becomes even stronger.
The reported £6 million initial fee would represent a sizeable investment in a player whose market value has risen sharply.
If the add-ons are eventually activated, Celtic could spend up to £7.5 million on the midfielder.
For Slovan Liberec, the potential transfer represents an extraordinary piece of business given that Mahmic arrived at the club without a transfer fee.
The Czech side could now receive a club-record transfer fee for a player who joined them for nothing just a year ago.
That remarkable rise is a clear indication of how quickly Mahmic’s career has developed.
His World Cup performances have provided the biggest stage yet for the midfielder to showcase his qualities.
Scoring twice despite playing only 72 minutes underlines his efficiency and ability to make an immediate impact.
The spectacular volley against Switzerland will likely remain one of the highlights of his tournament.
His composed finish against Qatar further demonstrated his ability to create opportunities and contribute in the final third.
Those moments have helped convince Celtic that Mahmic could be an important addition to their squad.
Martin O’Neil will now be hoping that the club can complete the agreement and bring the highly rated midfielder to Glasgow.
If the deal goes through, Mahmic will arrive with significant expectations because of the transfer fee and his impressive international performances.
However, his rapid development suggests that Celtic believe there is still plenty of room for further improvement.
The midfielder’s age, technical ability and international experience could make him an important part of Celtic’s plans moving forward.
His potential arrival would also give O’Neil another option in the middle of the pitch as the club prepares for a demanding campaign.
Meanwhile, the expected departure of Reo Hatete could create additional space for further midfield recruitment.
Celtic are therefore likely to remain active in the market even after completing the Mahmic deal.
The club will want to ensure that its midfield has enough depth and quality to compete across domestic and European competitions.
Mahmic’s journey from a free transfer to a potential £7.5 million signing is already one of the most fascinating stories of the current transfer window.
His former club Slovan Liberec are set to benefit financially from the remarkable rise, while Celtic could be getting a player whose reputation is growing rapidly.
The presence of interest from Besiktas, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg shows that Celtic have not identified an unknown player without competition.
Instead, they appear to be moving for a midfielder whose performances have already caught the attention of several established European clubs.
For Celtic supporters, the possibility of seeing Mahmic arrive at the club will undoubtedly be exciting.
His World Cup performances have provided a glimpse of what he can offer, but the real test will come if he completes his move and adapts to the demands of Scottish football.
For now, all indications point towards Celtic making a significant move for the Bosnia midfielder.
After saying goodbye to Slovan Liberec, Mahmic appears ready for the next major step in his career.
And if Celtic complete the reported £6 million deal, potentially rising to £7.5 million with add-ons, they will hope the midfielder can justify the investment and become another major success story at the club.