It was last summer when Celtic were linked with a player who knocked them out of the Champions League qualifiers. Cluj and Billel Ormani shocked Celtic Park when they beat Lenny’s side at home. The Romanian club would go out to be knocked out in the play-off round.

This is when rumours of Celtic’s interest in Ormani surfaced. Neil Lennon spoke back last summer about the Ormani interest and denied he was an option to RecordSport.

He said: “Again, we are looking at a lot of players, but not to my knowledge.”

Celtic would go on to draw Cluj in the Europa League group stages with the club gaining some home retribution for their defeat as well as topping their group.

The Ormani interest was never mentioned again.

However, out of the blue, Cluj director Bogdan Mara has come out again and reiterated Celtic’s interest last summer.

Mara claims Celtic went as far as making a bid for Ormani but Cluj didn’t want to sell.

With the summer transfer window set to open at some point, it appears as if the director is trying to let people know the player is up for sale.

“We had discussions with several clubs and we had offers. Celtic made an offer and so did a club in England.” Mara told SunSport.

“But when the offers came in, we needed him for European football and we still need him.

“I think our asking price of £3million is a fair price and several clubs remain interested.

“I think once football restarts, those clubs who were interested will return to us.

“He is an excellent player who has enjoyed an extraordinary season both at home and in Europe.”

It would be very surprising if Celtic were to make any move for the frontman at the current time. This does look like an attempt to get Billel’s name out there.

Celtic’s front options are pretty straight forward at the moment. Edouard and Griffiths have things tied up.

 

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