Scottish Premier League champions Celtic are set to be contesting with some of Europe's top clubs for the signature of Croatian attacking midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

The 21-year-old playmaker, who currently plays in his homeland for Hadjuk Split, is being tracked by many top clubs, including Spanish-side Deportivo La Coruna, Gerard Houllier’s French champions Lyon and German powerhouses Bayern Munich as well as Celtic.

Celtic have now put themselves in contention for the 6ft 1" (1.85m) tall Croatian star, who is believed to be valued at £2.5m.

Kranjcar, who is the son of the Croatia national coach Zlatko Kranjcar, was being touted as “the greatest promise of Croatian football” when he was still only 16-years-old and has been compared to a young Zidane.

Early in his career, Niko was in the sights of both Juventus and Milan, but his dream is to join Spanish giants Barcelona and his career advisor, the Croatian superstar Davor Suker, has already linked him with the Catalan giants who reportedly have acquired an option over Kranjcar.

Kranjkar, who will be starring for the Eastern European’s in this summer's World Cup Finals, is contracted until 2008 with Hadjuk Split, but Branko Grgic, the club chairman, said: “If Kranjcar wants to go, it is his decision and we will not stop him.”

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