Club to be priced out of move for Celtic player, director speaks about financial considerations

According to a claim in the Swedish media, AIK will be priced out of a move for Celtic defender Mikael Lustig in the summer.

The Celtic player has been linked with a move to the Swedish champions in recent weeks following questions over his future with the Scottish club.

Fotboll Direkt today report that due to the financial situation at AIK it’s unlikely any big signings will be made during the next transfer window, including Lustig. The Swedish club recently released their accounts for the last financial year which showed they’d made a loss.

Speaking about AIK’s financial position their sporting director Björn Wesström told Fotboll Direkt: “The management have a mandate which is responsible for AIK Football to be developed but also exist forever. Of course, this means that we need to take financial considerations in relation to what we have done before and judge what the club is able to grow in the short and long term.”

In November there were reports in Sweden that Lustig was being lined up for a move to AIK after claims Seb Larsson was trying to persuade him to join him in Stockholm. The Celtic right back played down these rumours, stating he by chance went on a night out with his international teammate whilst on a trip to the Swedish capital.

Lustig has played just four minutes in the league since the return of Neil Lennon but Celtic do have an option to extend his contact for another 12 months, with his current deal set to expire in June.

ND