CLOSE LOOK

Boss Bren will have old target Ademola in his sights yet again

-  MICHAEL GANNON

HE'S the man Celtic simply can't afford to lose track of in Italy tonight.

But Ademola Lookman will always be the one that got away for Brendan Rodgers.

The Hoops boss almost tempted the Atalanta hero to Parkhead during his first spell in charge, when the Nigeria winger was just a kid running riot with Charlton in England.

Celtic couldn't quite come up with the dosh but Rodgers did finally land his man when he was in charge of Leicester City and he landed the flying machine on loan from RB Leipzig. Lookman would eventually end up in Serie A where he achieved legendary status with his hat-trick in last season's Europa League win.

Rodgers said: "How close was he to signing? Close, in the fact that he was really excited by the project of Celtic.

"I met him in a hotel in London and we were looking to convince him to come.

Sadly, we just couldn't get to the levels that Charlton wanted for him.

"But the club did everything they could at that time.

"He wanted to join a big club. Charlton clearly were wanting to get as much as they possibly could for him.