Serie A giants Lazio are lining up a summer move for Celtic ace Jozo Simunovic, according to a Calcio Dangolo report.
The Italian media outlet claims Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has been tracking the 22-year-old centre-back’s performances.
It is said Celtic value the player at around £4.4million, a fee that Lazio would be willing to shell out as they look to bolster their defensive options.
This comes after the Daily Mail reported that Newcastle, Burnley, Huddersfield and Spartak Moscow were all interested in Simunovic.
The report stated Spartak have scouted the 22-year-old for months, but he is keen on a move to the Premier League.
The Croatian was a mainstay in the Hoops’ back line last term, making 33 appearances in all competitions, although he was an unsung hero for the treble winners compared to the likes of Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney and Scott Brown.
His only goal of the campaign came in the 2-1 league win over Dundee FC in March of this year.
Simunovic arrived at Parkhead in the summer of 2015 in a £6.5million switch from Dynamo Zagreb, and he has since played 50 league and cup games for the club.
The 22-year-old has been capped by Croatia Under-21s on nine occasions, and he has received a call-up to the senior national side, but he is yet to make an appearance for them.
Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers will be reluctant to let one of his top defensive performers leave this summer, especially after Simunovic’s big presence in last season’s treble-winning side.