Real Oviedo sporting director David Fernandez insists the club are in the driving seat when it comes to selling their players, with Celtic locked in talks over a deal for World Cup breakout star Haissem Hassan.
The Hoops have secured their second signing of the summer, breaking their transfer record to sign Bodo/Glimt frontman Kasper Hogh for an initial £11million. The Dane could form a new-look frontline with Camilo Duran, who has made an immediate impression in pre-season following his £6million switch from Qarabag.
Talks Ongoing for Hassan
Record Sport understands talks are ongoing with Oviedo about bringing winger Hassan to Parkhead. The 24-year-old was part of the Egypt side that reached the last 32 of the World Cup and caught the eye in their dramatic 3-2 loss to finalists Argentina.
Hassan – who only has 12 months remaining on his current contract – is also said to be a target for several other teams, including last season's Ligue 1 runners-up Lens.
Oviedo's Stance
While Fernandez says they are "prepared for anything", he is adamant players will only be allowed to leave on their terms. Speaking at a press conference, he said: "We are prepared for anything that might happen. We already have a significant portion of the squad with us. This is all a club decision. We're going to try to keep the best players and let go of those who need to leave. Everything that happens makes us activate or deactivate things. Everything that happens is part of the job."
Brentford Reject Arthur Bid
Elsewhere, Brentford have rejected a bid from Celtic to sign defender Benjamin Arthur on a permanent deal, according to a report. The 20-year-old centre back spent the second half of last season on loan at Parkhead and made six appearances in all competitions. The Richmond and Twickenham Times reports that Celtic have seen an attempt to land the defender on a permanent basis thrown out, with the Bees seeing Arthur as a big part of their plans moving forward under boss Keith Andrews in the Premier League.
