Celtic will 'accelerate' transfer interest in FIFA World Cup star after opening round performance
The latest Celtic transfer news with the Hoops reportedly set to ‘step up’ their pursuit of a Motherwell striker.
The summer transfer window is officially open and this year it coincides once again with a FIFA World Cup finals.
Celtic are understood to be keeping an eye on world football’s showpiece event in the USA, Canada and Mexico with more than one player thought to be of interest. They Hoops have tied down Martin O’Neill as head coach on a new contract and are currently negotiating deals for his backroom staff to join him after completing a successful league and cup double.
They will kick off their 2026/27 campaign at home to Dundee on August 3 and supporters will be hoping to see some first team reinforcements arrive at Celtic Park before then. One player, although he is currently in action across the Atlantic, could be set for a short move to Glasgow’s east end from Motherwell.
Celtic ‘preparing to step up interest’ in Motherwell striker after FIFA World Cup star performance
Per a report from Football Insider, Celtic are ‘accelerating their interest’ in Motherwell striker Elijah Just. The New Zealand international has been heavily linked with the Hoops in recent weeks and the article claims they are set to ‘step up their interest’ in signing him.
However, they could now face significant competition to land the 26-year old’s signature after he carried on his terrific form for the Steelmen from last season into the World Cup finals. The 26-year-old scored twice as New Zealand drew 2-2 with Iraq in their Group G clash.
New Zealand and Just will be back in action on Monday as they face Egypt in their second of three Group Stage matches. A win in that match for the All Whites would almost guarantee their progression to the knockout stages.
Their final Group Stage encounter will be against Belgium on Saturday, June 27. With all four teams having draw their opening matches against each other it is very much all to play for in the coming week.
Should Celtic have moved quicker to sign Motherwell striker after Scottish Premiership season
The latest report comes after former Celtic striker Chris Sutton’s comments saying that the Hoops should have moved quicker to sign the Motherwell attacker. He believes that not moving before the layer set off for North America could now have proven costly.
He wrote on X: “Celtic should’ve snapped Elijah Just up before now… now it could really cost them… tremendous performance from him.”
Motherwell signed Just from Danish club AC Horsens last summer and the New Zealand international went on to have a fantastic debut season in Scotland. The winger scored seven goals for the Steelmen and was one of five Fir Park stars named in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Year.
HE began his senior career in his native New Zealand back in 2016 before moving to Denmark with second division side Helsingør in 2019. He moved to Horsens two seasons later and also went on to have a brief loan spell at Austrian 2. Liga club SKN St. Pölten.
During his time at Horsens he played under his future Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou who would bring him to Scotland. The Dane also had a superb first season in Scotland and was poached by French club Toulouse to become their head coach this summer.