Maik Nawrocki's future Celtic transfer fee predicted as former Bhoy reckons new Pole can be money maker

Former Celtic hitman Dariusz ‘Jacki’ Dziekanowski reckons the Hoops can cash in on Maik Nawrocki once he stars on the Champions League stage.

Dziekanowski believes the 22-year-old, who has penned a five-year deal in a £4.5million move from Legia Warsaw, has plenty Parkhead potential. He’s watched the German-born defender make major strides in two years and is sure huge progress is still to come – with Nawrocki potentially the next shrewd buy to bank big sell-on profits.

Dziekanowski said: “When Nawrocki first came from Werder Bremen, he wasn’t a recognised player. He then played for Legia and made progress. In Legia he became consistent, he showed more responsibility. He’s very good on the ball, a right-footer, very comfortable and good at reading the game. He will be a better player than Yuki Kobayashi, who I saw in a few Celtic games. Although Nawrocki will need experience of Scottish football, he is more ready than Kobayashi.

“Celtic are paying good money for Nawrocki, Legia are very happy with this money. I hope he is worth this. I didn’t think someone would pay £4million because Legia didn’t win the title. But when you pay that money, you’re not only paying for now but for the future. He’s only 22. So you know if he plays well for Celtic in the Champions League, all of a sudden, you could have a player worth £8-15m.”

Nawrocki is following a well-trodden path. Dziekanowski in 1989, Artur Boruc and then Josip Juranovic left Legia for Glasgow’s east end. Dziekanowski, a flamboyant striker who is now one of Poland’s top TV pundits, insists Nawrocki must show “personality” to succeed at Celts.

He said: “Some people walk down the street and you never recognise them. Others walk just once and you always remember them.