Celtic 'resurrect' transfer interest in £7m-rated January target as Champions League club brace for bidding war
Norwegian giant-killers will demand upwards of £7m for the highly sought-after forward
Celtic are back in the transfer hunt for Kasper Hogh after reportedly reigniting their interest in the Bodo/Glimt striker.
Hoops boss Martin O’Neill has ramped up his pursuit of a new frontman to link up with £6m summer signing Camilo Duran in attack after missing out on a permanent deal for Bursaspor-bound Kelechi Iheanacho over the weekend.
The champions were understood to be keen on a £7m deal for 25-year-old Hogh in January, but the Norwegian club's progress to the Champions League knockout stages scuppered a potential move to Glasgow’s East End.
The Denmark international is under contract until the end of 2029, and Bodo/Glimt will demand in excess of £7m for his services. They are only expected to enter into negotiations if any suitors cough up a bumper fee.
Despite Hogh’s hefty price tag, the Scottish Sun claim Celtic remain interested in the player, who is also attracting attention from a number of English and European clubs. The attacker boasts some impressive numbers for Bodo, scoring 54 goals and 22 assists in 103 appearances.
Celtic are in need of frontline reinforcements after allowing Iheanacho’s one-year contract extension option to expire last month, which led the former Leicester City and Sevilla star to bump up his wage demands before deciding on a move to Turkey’s second-tier.
Celtic making ‘progress’ in pursuit of new arrivals
O’Neill insists there have been developments in relation to other targets, but stopped short of naming who they are.
Speaking in the wake of Saturday’s 1-1 friendly draw with EFL Championship side Middlesbrough at Parkhead, the 74-year-old said: “There has been progress but there’s no timeframe. There’s no point saying Monday if they come in on Wednesday instead. I don’t want to say something is absolute until it’s done but progress is definitely being made.”
The Irishman is seeking more firepower in the forward areas with Daizen Maeda also expected to quit the club in the coming weeks. And 6ft 1in Hogh fits the bill, having made his senior international debut in March.
Bodo are currently third in the Eliteserien after finishing as runners-up behind Viking last year. Kjetil Knutsen’s side will start their latest European campaign in the Champions League third qualifying round in early August.
Celtic, meanwhile, enter at the play-off stage and O’Neill will be desperate to have new faces in the door for those games.