Another Celtic midfield target snapped up as £4.3m fee agreed - report

Celtic are now set to miss out on a midfield target who has been linked with the club for much of the summer in Ermin Mahmic. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international caught the eye during the World Cup, scoring twice for his nation despite being only 21 years of age.

The Bhoys are in desperate need of midfielders, with only two recognised defensive midfielders on their books, and neither of them are getting any younger in Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Celtic were without the latter for their Champions League play-offs, with Mika Baur filling in, playing out of position, and the midfield was overrun repeatedly. The Hoops also have other needs, with a left-back and a goalkeeper also required, but they could ideally do with two new midfield signings.

Mahmic was said to be one of the options, available for just £4.3million this summer, but he will now head elsewhere for that fee, with the Slovan Liberec attacking midfielder set to join Turkish side Corum FK, who won promotion to the top flight last season.

Martin O'Neill has said that Champions League elimination will likely impact the club's ability to do deals, but one would imagine they are able to spend £4.3million on a midfielder, keeping in mind they have not reinvested the £22million brought in for Arne Engels at this stage.

But missing out on targets has been the story of Celtic's transfer window thanks to a hesitant approach that has only seen them complete four deals all summer. The Bhoys came into this summer seemingly aware that they needed to be proactive, with Daizen Maeda and Engels always likely to leave, but their actions have not reflected it.

The Scottish transfer deadline is at 5pm on September 3, but Celtic's deadline is realistically 11pm the night before, because that is when the UEFA squad registration deadline is, and players signed after that won't be able to compete in the league phase of the Europa League.