Celtic signing Pavlovic could be the club’s best piece of business for years

Celtic are firmly in the race to land Serbian defender Strahinja Pavlovic.

Neil Lennon is still thought to be keen on bolstering his squad ahead of the new season, with another defensive arrival high on his wishlist.  

And according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, cited by HITC, the Hoops, along with Benfica and an unnamed English side, are all considering moves for the player. 

The Partizan Belgrade youngster has also been linked with a move to Juventus in recent times, and a move could cost the Hoops around £5.5 million. 

Read Celtic verdict

The 18-year-old could turn out to be an excellent addition by the club, potentially one of their best since signing Virgil van Dijk for just £2.6 million six years ago. 

There has been plenty of hype around the teenager in Serbia over recent months, and it is easy to see why. 

The 6ft 3in centre-back has made just 18 competitive appearances for Partizan, standing out in almost every fixture with some dominant displays. 

The Serbian is good in the air, winning the majority of his aerial duels, and has caught the eye with his intelligent reading of the game with multiple interceptions. 

Pavlovic is also good on the ball and has the ability to comfortably carry the ball from deep and make confident passes into midfield. 

And with Partizan willing to surprisingly cash in on the teenager for £5.5 million, it looks like Celtic need to do everything they can to win the race for the highly-rated defender.