Celtic transfer target Flavius Daniliuc has lived a life in football already without fulfilling his potential... yet.

However, former Hearts and Austria international midfielder Thomas Flogel reckons a move to Glasgow could benefit both parties if Daniliuc can be persuaded to join the Scottish champions this summer. The 23-year-old centre-back has had an eventful career, to say the least. The right-footed Austrian centre-back started at Admira Wacker youths, before moving to Rapid Vienna Youth in 2010 and shortly after, he joined the Real Madrid youth ranks in 2011.

He never played a first-team game for Los Blancos before switching to European giants Bayern Munich in 2015, where he also failed to make a first-team appearance. In October 2018, Daniliuc was included in The Guardian's 'Next Generation 2018', which listed the 60 most talented footballers born in 2001. He then transferred to French Ligue 1 outfit Nice in 2019 and spent two seasons there before joining Italian outfit Salernitana in 2022. He spent the second half of last season on an option-to-buy-loan deal at Red Bull Salzburg from the Italians.

The Austrians are still weighing up the possibility of exercising the option-to-buy clause in the contract which could be as high as 5.5 million euros as he remains contracted to newly-relegated Salernitana until 2026. Although Brendan Rodgers' Celtic though remain in the hunt for the 6 ft 2 inch centre-back who is set to feature in Euro 2024 with Austria who have been drawn against France, Netherlands and Poland in Group D.

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Daniliuc, who has captained Bayern’s U19s, Austria’s U19s and U21s has gained lots of experience at youth levels and now Flogel believes that it is time for him to progress and develop his career and finally accelerate it to the top tier which he has threatened to do so often in the past.

Daniliuc has a strong character, as well as leadership ability having already made brave and bold decisions in his young career thus far. This is why Flogel reckons Parkhead could be the perfect next port of call for Daniluic to lay down some roots and achieve some of his personal sporting ambitions. The 53-year-old said: "Flavius Daniliuc has been a very good young player for a few years now and he is widely known in Austria.

"If he chose to go to Celtic he would be a good fit for Brendan Rodgers' team. I think he would suit Celtic's style from what I have seen of the way the team plays under Rodgers. Daniliuc is very fit and he is a fast, physical and athletic player. I reckon this is the season where he has to take a step forward, progress and develop his career and fulfil all the potential that he showed as a youngster.

"He is an excellent player who will get game time for Austria during Euro 2024 in Germany. If he performs well in that tournament then it won't just be Celtic who will be looking at him and casting admiring glances. If he decided to sign for Celtic then this could be a great career move for Daniliuc and it could well suit both parties. I just feel that Daniliuc has to step up now and advance his career and Celtic could well be the ideal place to do that."

(Image: Agency)

Flogel who spent five years at Tynecastle from 1997 to 2002 is adamant that Daniliuc would easily fit into the win-every-game culture that's needed in G40 without any problems. He said: "Daniliuc has played for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich youth teams and they will have coached him on how to develop a winning mentality.

"Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are clubs that demand success and to win at every level and that is the same at Celtic. He would have no problems whatsoever settling in at Celtic and getting used to the demands and culture of the club. He will be used to that and he will positively thrive on it."

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Despite Red Bull Salzburg having first refusal on whether or not to trigger Daniliuc's permanent deal status, Flogel won't rule Celtic out of the race just yet, especially as they can offer a minimum of eight games in the new Champions League Swiss-model league format which starts this season. A reunification with former Bayern Munich II teammate Nicolas Kuhn at Celtic Park could still be on the cards for Daniliuc.

Flogel, who has just concluded a coaching spell with Austrian Regional League side Krasmer SC said: "I read about Daniliuc's contract situation and Red Bull is seemingly in pole position but they have been plunged into the Champions League qualifiers this year after surprisingly losing the title to Sturm Graz. The player might fancy being back in his homeland and plying his trade for Salzburg but Celtic can offer Champions League football and we are entering an exciting new era in that tournament.

"You never know, that could be a deciding factor in helping to make up Daniliuc's mind if the interest from Celtic turned out to be concrete. I don't know if the player has or will have other offers on the table but it's the one major advantage that Celtic have in their quest to try and attract players to the club this summer.

"Every player wants to play at the top level in European football and Celtic would be offering a route straight into the tournament without having to negotiate any qualifiers. Celtic also needs a big squad to compete at the Champions League level. It would be very much Celtic's gain if Daniliuc were to choose to play for them over staying with Red Bull Salzburg.

"There is a real possibility that Daniliuc could move on this summer and that being the case then Celtic have to remain hopeful that they can conclude a deal to bring him to Glasgow."