The clock is ticking for Celtic to supply Brendan Rodgers with another striker for the remainder of the season.
The Hoops are in the market for another frontman after selling Kyogo to Rennes for £10million, despite Adam Idah netting three goals in his last two matches after stepping up to the plate. Celtic did hand a debut to teenage goal machine Daniel Cummings in the midweek Champions League defeat to Aston Villa, but the Scotland youth international won’t be at Parkhead much longer having signed a pre-contract with West Ham.
But after Sunday’s 3-1 victory at Motherwell, boss Rodgers hinted that the club may have to settle for a loan agreement to get a deal for a forward over line on transfer deadline day. Here are eight strikers that the champions have been linked with and where they stand going into the final hours of the window.
Tammer Bany
Randers forward Tammer Banny is said to be attracting interest from several clubs across the continent, including Celtic. The Danish club’s sporting director Soren Pedersen has been resigned to losing their talisman this month, and Tipsbladet now claim that English Championship West Brom have won the race to land his signature. The Baggies have reportedly agreed a fee of 30 million kroner (£3.3million) which is a club record fee for Randers.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho emerged as a shock target for the Hoops earlier this week, having previously played under Rodgers in the Premier League at Leicester. However the Nigerian won’t be arriving in Glasgow, with the 28-year-old on the brink of sealing a loan move to Middlesbrough.
Mathias Kvistgaarden
Brondby star Mathias Kvistgaarden has been on Celtic’s radar across the past two transfer windows, but the Danish club’s reported asking price of £13.5million has proved to be a sticking point. Talks are said to have broken down between the two clubs and Rodgers may have to wait until next summer to try and finally nail his long-term target.
David Strelec
Slovan Bratislava’s £8million rated David Strelec is also of interest to the champions, as first revealed by Record Sport. The 23-year-old has been in fine form with 15 goals this season, but as the hours tick by, progress on a deal for the Slovakian has stalled, with Middeslbrough also said to be keen on the player.
Evan Ferguson
Another striker who has definitely got away from the Hoops is Evan Ferguson. The Republic of Ireland international had been linked with a loan switch to Parkhead in order to pick up more first team minutes, but Brighton forward is set to team up with former Seagulls manager Graham Potter at West Ham.
Jamie Vardy
Celtic had also been tipped to make a sensational move for Leicester stalwart Jamie Vardy. The former England star’s wages would be a big hurdle for the Hoops to overcome, and Rodgers – who led Vardy and the Foxes to an FA Cup triumph in 2021 – would have to work all his magic to try and bring the 38-year-old north of the border.
Odsonne Edouard
Having seen Jota seal a dream return to Parkhead and with Kieran Tierney on his way back from Arsenal next summer, some Hoops fans have been speculating that Odsonne Edouard may once again pull on the famous green-and-white. The Frenchman is currently out on loan at Leicester from Crystal Palace, but the goals have dried up for the ex PSG man in recent seasons.
Regardless, FIFA regulations would not permit Edouard to play for another club in Europe in a single season, having also featured for Palace in the early part of the campaign before heading out on loan.
Mohamed Bayo
Lille frontman Mohamed Bayo had also been touted as a potential option to fill the void left by Kyogo. Reports in France claim that the 26-year-old is keen to move on before the close of play tonight, but at the moment the only likely parties to make a move for him are Ipswich Town in the Premier League and Royal Antwerp in Belgium.
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