Celtic and Bournemouth Pursue Ex-Real Madrid Striker, Fulham Targets Dinamo Zagreb Star

Celtic and Bournemouth are reportedly among the clubs vying for the signature of Elche striker Álvaro Rodríguez. The 21-year-old forward progressed through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, where he made seven appearances for the senior team.

Following a loan spell at Getafe during the 2024-25 season, Rodríguez secured a permanent transfer to Elche last summer. He made a notable impact in La Liga, netting seven goals and providing five assists across 34 appearances.

His crucial goal in Elche’s 1-1 draw against Girona on the final day of the season ensured the club’s survival in Spain’s top division for another year. However, Elche now faces a challenge in retaining his services, as TuttoMercatoWeb reports interest from Celtic and Bournemouth.

Competition for Rodríguez is fierce, with Bologna, Ajax, and Feyenoord also looking to secure his transfer this summer. The Spanish-born Uruguay Under-20 international is under contract with Elche until June 2029.

© Imago / HANZA MEDIA.

Fulham Submits Bid for Stojkovic

In other transfer news, Fulham has reportedly made an offer for Luka Stojkovic, a standout player from Dinamo Zagreb. Croatian outlet Germanijak has indicated that Fulham is showing serious interest in the striker, who is also being pursued by Lazio.

The attacking midfielder impressed during the 2025-26 season by scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists in 42 competitive matches. He notably scored twice in last month’s Croatian Cup final against HNK Rijeka, contributing to his team’s league and cup double.

Fulham’s bid exceeds £4 million; however, Dinamo Zagreb has rejected the offer. The Croatian club is hesitant to part with key players until after the qualifying rounds for the 2026-27 Champions League.

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire.

World Cup Sensation Completes Transfer

Elsewhere, Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne has reportedly agreed to join Paraguayan club Olimpia. The New Zealand right-back gained significant attention recently after being dubbed the ‘least-known player’ of the 2026 World Cup by Argentinian influencer Valen Scarsini.

Scarsini encouraged his vast following to support Payne on social media, which resulted in an explosive increase in his Instagram followers—from 4,715 to over 5.8 million—making him the most-followed footballer in New Zealand’s history.

This surge in popularity appears to have facilitated Payne’s move to Olimpia. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, he has reached a verbal agreement to leave Wellington Phoenix after making 157 competitive appearances over seven years.