The £20m Celtic striker target sees price plummet as reality of transfer rebellion becomes clear
Romania international Louis Munteanu was said to be on the Parkhead shopping list in the final stage of the window
CFR Cluj striker Louis Munteanu has been told that his price has plummeted since a summer bid from Celtic was booted out.
Sources in Romania credited Brendan Rodgers' side with an interest in the 23-year-old during the window and even went as far as to report that they saw a bid worth £6.9million turfed out by Cluj.
Munteanu - who banged in 25 goals last season - was also heavily linked with Valencia in La Liga and Rennes in Ligue 1.
And following the end of the window, owner Ioan Varga claimed that the striker was on the brink of a blockbuster £17.5million move to Ajax - with the Dutch giants eventually opting to sign Kasper Dolberg and scuppering the Hoops' late transfer window plans.
He said: "The truth about Louis Munteanu's transfer is that we were one step away from selling him to Ajax on the last day of the transfer window.
"But we didn't get the timing right, because we made the deal around 6pm and there were only a few hours left.
"Ajax and Valencia are, at the moment, the only clubs willing to pay under the conditions we are asking for, that is, 15-17 million euros plus percentages and bonuses, so that the transfer could go up to 20 million euros (£17.5million).
"It is a discussion that will be reactivated in the winter transfer window and we hope that then God will keep Louis healthy and help us in the championship."
Since then, the frontman has removed himself from the first-team plans as he rebelled against the club for only welcoming mega money offers.
He only made his first-team return in the derby day draw with Uni Cluj last weekend - having been absent for almost a month, while still representing Romania in their 3-0 friendly defeat to Canada.
Reports in Romania suggest the frontman is still pushing for an exit and will look for an exit in January.
Speaking after Munteanu's return to the side, boss Andrea Mandorlini hoped that he could be convinced to see out the season: " Louis is better. I would like him to be with us. I will talk to him again."
FCSB owner George Becali has claimed that murmurs were rippling through Romanian football that £4.3million would now be enough to sign the player amid the public fallout.
He told GSP: "I wasn't 100 per cent he would give in. But when the club publicly said they want 12 million euros, I felt for him.
"The club now need to look at bringing in money in the bag in January no matter what. I heard 5 million euros. I could try, but I don't know if he would look at my face. But I praise him."