Cho Gue-Sung to Celtic latest as ‘50 per cent sell-on' offer made in bid to win race for key target

Celtic have reportedly offered Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors a substantial sell-on clause in a bid to win the race to sign South Korea forward Cho Gue-sung.

The Parkhead side are one of three clubs vying for the 24-year-old’s signature with Bundesliga side Mainz and MLS outfit Minnesota United also keen on landing the player who starred for his country at the World Cup, scoring two goals against Ghana.

Now details of each of the three bids have emerged with respected transfer source Fabrizio Romano claiming that Celtic have offered a fee in the region of £2.6million for Gue-sung, including 50 per cent of any future sale up to the value of around £5.3million.

Minnesota are said to have offered more cash up front, in the shape of a £4.4million bid, but with a lesser 30 per cent sell-on fee, while Mainz have submitted a transfer fee close to the amount proposed by Celtic.

Celtic target Cho Gue-Sung in action for South Korea during the World Cup in Qatar. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Romano added: “Discussions are taking place to decide next club.”

Representatives from Celtic met with Jeonbuk technical director Ji-Sung Park in London on Tuesday to put forward their proposals for another one of Ange Postecoglou’s key January signing targets.

Meanwhile, Minnesota have confirmed their pursuit of Gue-sung with manager Adrian Heath admitting: “I’d be lying if he wasn’t of interest.

"The way he played in the World Cup showed everybody. But we’ll have to wait and see. There has been some dialogue there — along with two or three other players as well.”

Gue-sung could be viewed as a replacement for Giorgos Giakoumakis at Celtic with the Greek striker the subject of transfer interest from clubs in Japan, the MLS and Sampdoria.