Celtic in danger of losing one horse race for Croatian star

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Celtic Shorts

·6 August 2026

Celtic in danger of losing one horse race for Croatian star

Celtic look like losing a one-horse race to sign Las Palmas goalkeeper Dinko Horkas this summer…

Inaki Williams of Athletic Club scores his team’s first goal past Dinko Horkas of UD Las Palmas during the LaLiga match between Athletic Club and UD Las Palmas at Estadio de San Mames on April 23, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The clearly frustrated President of the Spanish side has declared that he’d rather hold onto his unhappy want-away keeper rather than accept the terms of the deal that is on the table from Michael Nicholson.

Dinko Horkas has had to content with a life-changing move to the Saudi Pro-League falling through earlier in the summer and is keen to make the move after Las Palmas failed to win a promotion slot back to La Liga last season.

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But the Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez has revealed to local media that Celtic’s offer is the only bid he has received for goalkeeper Dinko Horkas but that predictably enough “isn’t attractive to the club.”

Jasper Cillessen and Dinko Horkas of UD Las Palmas interact at full-time following the team’s victory in the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Horkas has two years remaining on his current contract and Las Palmas are apparently in no rush to cash in on the Croatian unless their valuation is met. And it’s not just the transfer fee that has to be right, the Spanish second tier outfit want to ensure that the other terms are fair and reasonable and that clearly is far from the case judging from what Miguel Angel Ramirez has had to say about the approach from Celtic.

The former Dinamo Zagreb has told his club President that he wants to leave this summer but that is clearly not going to happen until such time as an acceptable offer is submitted, whether that is from Celtic or another interested party.

impressed in Spain’s second tier last season despite Las Palmas falling short in their bid to secure promotion back to La Liga.

Miguel Angel Ramirez, speaking to Spanish outlet Tinta Amarilla, explained the current situation on his want away goalkeeper and the difficulties he has with the only bid that has come in for the player, that being from Celtic.

23rd May 2026; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Cup Final Football, Celtic versus Dunfermline; Celtic board of directors

“Dinko Horkas is a UD Las Palmas player who has asked to leave the club. The club won’t let him go because the only offer we have [from Celtic] isn’t attractive to the club.

“He says it will be difficult for him to continue playing for UD Las Palmas since he had an offer from Saudi, that would have been a lifesaver.

“Horkas says he doesn’t feel strong or motivated to be on the team. But we have other ways he can contribute to help the team. If he doesn’t want to play, he can still help us mark the pitch or put up the nets.

“He has a contract with UD Las Palmas and will stay at the club if the offer he has doesn’t meet UD Las Palmas’ expectations.”

8th March 2026 Ibrox , Scottish Cup, Rangers versus Celtic. The Celtic Board in the main stand. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Miguel Angel Ramirez was asked what the club want for a fee, and he was happy to reveal what he is looking for and also what Celtic has offered for his goalkeeper.

“We’re talking about five million. They’re offering us four million to be paid over four years. We’re asking for five million and 50 per cent of any future transfer fee.”

Transfer fees are seldom paid upfront but so it’s not as if as some on social media has noted, that Celtic are asking for ‘tic’ here. However there does seem to be some room to negotiate on both positions. If Celtic go to €5m then they could insist that the sell-on percent drops to say 10%.

The Las Palmas president is clearly frustrated at all of this but he must know that his remarks will have reached the player who could simply call his bluff and sit things out putting up the nets.

Meanwhile in Glasgow the clock is ticking for Michael Nicholson and the Celtic Board to deliver the busy summer that interim Chairman Brian Wilson promised us as the window opened. Busy selling players and cutting the wage bill is probably what he meant. After all politicians don’t lie, do they?

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