Join thousands of fans who have signed up to our Celtic newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

CELTIC will have to stump up a minimum of £2.4million to land AZ Alkmaar star Aron Johannsson.

Neil Lennon ran the rule over the 23-year-old USA striker in Wednesday night’s Dutch Cup win over Heerenveen.

Johannsson scored two goals and impressed Lennon while the Hoops gaffer also got to see long-term target Alfred Finnbogason in action for Heerenveen again.

Lennon wanted the Iceland striker in the summer but the fee was £5m. During next month’s window it’s understood that price tag is likely to increase given the 24-year-old’s scoring exploits have now attracted several English clubs.

That looks certain to take him out of Celtic’s price range but Johannsson is very much in it.

Record Sport can reveal AZ boss Dick Advocaat does not want to lose Johannsson, who is at his best playing as part of a front two, as he has been in brilliant form during the past four months.

But Dutch clubs are all under financial pressure and that could see Advocaat having to accept a fair offer.

AZ signed Johannsson at the start of the year from Danish side Aarhus for £800,000 and the club will not accept anything less than tripling that outlay.

Celtic can also offer Johannsson – who should be part of the USA squad for Brazil next summer – a huge hike in wages and that could lure the player to Scotland.

Meanwhile, Georgios Samaras saw a potential move to Serie A ruled out yesterday as Lazio declared he is not one of their transfer targets in January.

Lazio’s sporting director, Igli Tare, had previously been linked with a move for the 28-year-old Greek striker.

But Tare last night insisted Lazio are not interested right now in the player they previously tried to lure from Celtic.

He told a Lazio supporters’ website, Lalaziosiamonoi, that a deal for Samaras is not imminent.

He said: “Personally he is a player I like a lot.

“We were also interested in him four years ago but nothing happened.

“We are focused on the challenge of Verona this weekend, there is time later for the transfer market.

“But Samaras? Currently, he is not a goal of Lazio.

“Next week we will meet with our technical director, Vladimir Petkovic, to determine movements of the market.”