Brendan Rodgers is in dire need of a new striker before the end of the transfer window – but a move for Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden to Celtic now appears to be off the table.
The Premiership leaders are on the lookout for Kyogo Furuhashi ‘s successor after he made his move to Stade Rennes – with Kvistgaarden and David Strelec on the radar alongside Sevilla misfit Kelechi Iheanacho as the boss dips into his old Leicester City contacts book. A loan move to bring the Nigeria misfit to La Liga appears to be gathering pace while talks with Brondby over Kvistgaarden are at an end.
Sky Sports report that talks have “broken down” between the two clubs due to a “gap in valuation”. Record Sport understands Brondby were holding out for a bumper £13.5m payday to allow the 22-year-old to join the Scottish Premiership side this month.
Asked about the potential outgoing by 3point.dk, boss Frederik Birk appeared to hint that he would be keen on limiting departures: “All of that is on Benjamin Schmede’s (sports director) table, but you don’t have to be good at math to see that we are a bit short on numbers right now. What I can do is move the pieces around and make it work to hit the right team.”
Celtic are considering a move for Slovan Bratislava’s frontman Strelec – but the price tag is surging. Record Sport revealed the interest in the 23-year-old – and Slovan have made it clear they will only sell their prize asset if the price is right. Sport Noviny report that Slovan have raised the asking price from £8m to £10m with Middlesborough also considering a deal.
Evan Ferguson has been linked with a loan move to Celtic this month from Brighton – with West Ham, Chelsea and Arsenal also said to be tracking the 20-year-old. Paul Merson reckons that the Ireland international must demand game time wherever he goes next – but reckons working under former boss Graham Potter could be the best move.
He told the Sky Sports Transfer Show: “With him, he needs to play and if he goes to Chelsea, he plays behind Jackson. I do like him. When he first got in the Brighton team, he was outstanding and them got a few injuries.
“Then you have to come up with solutions, and then people talk about you and then it becomes harder. People get a free hit and then the good ones keep on improving and improving. He will have to do that. If he stays injury-free, he would be a good signing for West Ham.”