Despite being injured, Celtic’s Erik Sviatchenko’s future could still be well away from Celtic Park.
This is, at least, what BT in Denmark are reporting, claiming that while the Dane’s knee injury has put off Besiktas about a potentially transfer, FC Copenhagen are still very interested.
In fact, the Turkish side dropping out of the race has made everything much easier for the Danish side, who appear to be the only ones after the 25-year-old at present time.
Interest from Sevilla and a handful of English clubs also seems to have cooled, meaning Ståle Solbakken’s side are now favourites to sign the Celtic defender.
FC Copenhagen’s manager is said to have previously expressed his desire to sign Sviatchenko, and while the player’s wages appeared to be a problem in the past, that might not be the case anymore.
His injury could play a part in this, as Celtic could be more willing to sell ‘damaged goods’, so to speak, at a lower price, meaning more money could be available salary wise.
BT report that contact between the Danish side and Sviatchenko is still ongoing, and while Solbakken refuses to comment on the speculation, the player himself didn’t hide his admiration for FC Copenhagen.
He said: “It is the biggest club in the Nordic region, perhaps also one of Northern Europe’s best clubs. They play in the Champions League and the Europa League. Right now, they are a strong team so it’s only flattering if the club is interested in me”.
The seriousness of the injury also appears to have been underplayed, as it now looks the centre-back could be out for 12 weeks, meaning an November return.
This hasn’t put off FC Copenhagen, and it seems they would be willing to sign him anyways.
For now, however, Sviatchenko’s main focus is to ‘get back in the best possible shape’.
