Jordan Larsson to Celtic possibility opens up as front-runner pulls out of transfer race for striker
SWEDISH side AIK have pulled out of the running to sign Jordan Larsson, leaving the door open for others - including Celtic - to do a deal for him.
This latest development could allow Celts to swoop in for Larsson, son of club legend Henrik, who is a free agent after leaving Spartak Moscow.
Few could picture a more popular signing with the Hoops fans than the son of the Parkhead icon.
And speculation has been ongoing since the youngster's deal at Spartak Moscow came to end early.
The 25 year-old scored 22 goals for the Russian club and another five while on loan at AIK Solva last season.
His sudden availability has captured the imaginations of Celtic supporters as they speculate whether he can carry on his father's legacy.
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And now the possibility seems a little bit more likely as AIK drop out of the running to sign him.
Their sporting director, Henrik Julius played down their interest in Larsson, as he claimed there are larger clubs after him.
Julius, speaking to Swedish publication Aftonbladet, said: "It turned out in a very good way for Jordan when his contract was broken and he became a free agent.
"At the same time, it became more difficult for us [to sign him] given the market that I think opens up for him.
"And it became natural that when he left that he does not, at such an early stage, rule himself out for any alternative or decision, even if we wanted to keep him.
"But we said that we keep in touch and see how it develops. There was interest in him already last summer, where clubs followed him.
"And he has delivered at a level here that is above the Allsvenskan and that opens doors. It would be naive of us to think that he will not get good offers from good clubs.
"He has a fairly high reputation in Europe and has probably only strengthened the shares to reach his goals."
Jordan Larsson has previously admitted that Celtic has a special place in his heart.
He used to run about Celtic Park as a youngster at the end of season title parties.
It clearly sticks out in his memory as a special time: “For me Celtic will always have a special place in my heart.
"Not that I’ve played there in that sense, but it was the first place where I saw football as a young kid going with my mother to see games when my father was playing.
"That’s where I have the biggest memories in my head.
"‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ when you have all the scarves before the games and everything so of course it will always have a special place in my heart.
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"But at the same time, since my father is who he is at the club, I think for me personally if I would ever have the chance to play there then I would like to establish myself even more, make my own name before I would play there.
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"But of course it’s tempting.”
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