Elias Filet in Celtic transfer talks after 22-goal season

Celtic have held discussions with elias filet after the FC Aarau striker scored 22 goals last season. The move has reached the stage where Celtic are trying to agree terms with the player before they talk transfer with his club.

Celtic and Elias Filet

Celtic held a video conference with his representative on Tuesday, a direct step that shows how far the interest has moved beyond a loose scouting note. Filet, who plays for FC Aarau in the Swiss Challenge League, is expected to move on this summer with one year left on his deal.

The 6ft 1in forward also had a strong individual season beyond the goal count, ending it as Swiss Challenge League Player of the Year. That combination of output and physical presence fits the profile Celtic were urged to strengthen last season, when Martin O'Neill said the squad needed more firepower and physicality.

FC Aarau and rival interest

The complication for Celtic is that they are not alone. Genk have already made an offer for Filet, while FC Lorient have been in contact with his agent and are expected to firm up their interest this week.

That leaves Celtic working on the part of a transfer they can control first: personal terms. If they can close that stage, the next step would be a deal with FC Aarau, where he still has a year left on his contract.

O'Neill's Celtic plan

The talks sit alongside a wider summer rebuild around Martin O'Neill, who is set to be appointed Celtic manager on a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. Celtic also have two title-winning forwards out of contract in Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, increasing the need to add scoring power rather than simply preserve it.

Iheanacho rescued Celtic's title dreams with late goals, while Oxlade-Chamberlain scored two crucial winners on the way to five-in-a-row. Filet's profile gives Celtic a different route to goals, but only if they can move faster than the clubs already in the race.