The Premiership champions were said to have seen a bid rejected by Cluj earlier in the window<\/p>\n
12:22, 21 Aug 2025Updated 13:54, 21 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Louis Munteanu is said has his heart set on a move to La Liga – despite interest from Celtic<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Romania international caught the eye at CFR Cluj last season, banging in 25 goals in all competitions to help his team win the domestic cup.<\/p>\n Munteanu is alleged to be on Brendan Rodgers<\/a>‘ radar, with reports claiming that the Hoops saw a \u00a36.9million bid turfed out for the 23-year-old earlier this summer.<\/p>\n The former Fiorentina kid is also wanted by Valencia in Spain, and reports in Romania state that an initial loan deal that will become a permanent transfer for \u00a38.6million is close to being finalised<\/a>.<\/p>\n And Romania U23 boss and one-time Inverness Caley Thistle<\/a> forward Marius Niculae has revealed the player’s transfer intentions.<\/p>\n Speaking to digisport.ro, he said: “I spent a lot of time with him this summer and talked a lot. I like him a lot, I bet on him to be the next striker for the national team.<\/p>\n “He is a player who has great qualities. He was also a little stressed, even if he didn’t show it. He says he is preparing, but your mind wanders to other areas as well.<\/p>\n “I see him in Spain, it suits him best. He wants this too, also in Spain, from the discussions we had. I think it would suit him best, not Italy where he has been before or somewhere else, in a tougher championship.”<\/p>\n Munteanu returned to action as a substitute in Cluj’s 3-3 league draw with Botosani last weekend after missing the second leg of their defeat to Braga in a Europa League qualifier.<\/p>\n But ahead of their Conference League play-off clash against BK Hacken, manager Dan Petrescu – a legend with Chelsea – insists the attacker’s lack of minutes is not down to any transfer speculation.<\/p>\n “Louis Munteanu has had several days in which he missed training this summer,” he stated. “He was injured, basically, he lost everything that the training period meant.<\/p>\n “Even so, I say that he hasn’t played badly so far, even if he hasn’t scored. He’s always started well, but, naturally, everyone expects more from him.”<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic<\/a> pages and sign up to our newsletters<\/a> to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.<\/p>\n We’re also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Celtic community here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/p>\n