Tanner Tessmann gets brutal push towards Celtic transfer as £16m alternative handed Jamie Carragher endorsement

Fuming Venezia general director Filippo Antonelli has bombed wantaway star Tanner Tessmann out of the first-team picture amid transfer links with Celtic.

The 22-year-old was a standout for the club last season in Serie B - and has twice appeared to be on the brink of a big-money move away from the club before the start of their top flight campaign. The 22-year-old was on the verge of a move to Inter before the Serie A champions pulled out of talks after failing to reach an agreement with the American's representatives on a contract. It appears to be a similar story with Fiorentina - with reports in Italy suggesting a £5m package is set to collapse over fees that would be owed to agents over the deal.

The Scottish Premiership champions are reportedly among the clubs eyeing a deal for the USA international - as they prepare for the prospect of Matt O'Riley leaving Glasgow's east end this summer. And Venezia chief Antonelli has cleared a path for a deal - declaring he is out of the club's plans.

He told Il Gazzettino. “Tessmann is out of the Venezia project. It’s been a difficult week, try to understand me. I’m sorry above all for the player, for the situation he’s put himself in. At the moment, he’s out of the list of players available for (coach Eusebio) Di Francesco, but it’s his choice. It doesn’t depend on us.”

Another addition in Hoops' midfield engine room could be Liverpool fringe man Wataru Endo. The Premier League giants are said to be open minded to a sale following the arrival of Arne Slot.

The new boss is said to have deemed the Japan captain surplus to requirements just a year on from the 31-year-old's£16m move from Stuttgart. Celtic are said to be monitoring the situation - but could be put off by a hefty