Gustaf Lagerbielke’s Elfsborg urges Celtic to 'act powerfully' over transfer as interest dismissed as not enough

Elfsborg director Stefan Andreasson has urged Celtic to “act powerfully” and turn their interest in Gustaf Lagerbielke into a transfer negotiation.

The champions are in the market for a defender to replace Carl Starfelt, who is on the verge of a move to Celta Vigo in order to be closer to girlfriend Jacynta, who left Celtic Women for Sporting this summer. And compatriot Lagerbielke appears to fit the bill for Brendan Rodgers. The two Swedes share the same agent, which could make the process that bit smoother when it comes to getting a deal done.

However, Andreasson insists talks have not yet started in earnest. He admits that Celtic have made their interest in the 23-year-old known. But says they are yet to get down to brass tacks and really progress the process in order to sign the Sweden international. He told Fotbollkanalen: "We have had a dialogue in this case. There is an interest, yes.

"But we are not in a negotiation. Then the club must move from interest to acting powerfully and concretely. We are not there right now. The trade-off is, as always, in the summer window. We have managed to have healthy conversations with our players.

"The most important thing is the club and the situation we are in. We are always positive that players can go for the right price.

"Many players want to leave Sweden. So we have dialogues when there is a good time for it. Sometimes, when we don't think the bid is good enough, we might say no, and then it might take a while, and then something better might come along, and then players might still be happy. We know roughly what it would mean for a transfer for some players.

"We have a dialogue with the players and their representatives. We have that with multiple players now. Partly