Celtic Pursue Høgh and Rangers Loan Danilo as Transfer Market Heats Up
The Glasgow giants are tearing up their forward lines, one boarding pass at a time.
Celtic move for Høgh as Maeda heads out
Celtic look to have their next centrepiece in place. Kasper Høgh, the 25-year-old Bodo/Glimt striker rated at around £7m, is edging towards a move to the Scottish champions after talks between the clubs progressed this week.
The timing felt telling. On Thursday night, as Bodo/Glimt cruised to a 3-0 win over HamKam, Høgh stayed rooted to the bench, an unused substitute while speculation around his future swirled. A player Celtic have tracked since January now appears close to swapping Norway’s yellow for Glasgow’s green.
His arrival would come as Daizen Maeda prepares to walk out the other door. The Japan forward landed in London on Thursday to undergo a medical ahead of a £10m switch to Ipswich Town. The 28-year-old’s departure from Celtic could be confirmed as early as Friday, a significant exit in both footballing and financial terms for the champions.
Celtic’s recruitment drive does not stop with Høgh. They have tested Paderborn’s resolve for 22-year-old midfielder Mika Baur with a £4m offer, but the newly promoted Bundesliga side are standing firm. Paderborn would rather keep Baur for another season and lose him for free next summer than sell below their valuation, leaving Celtic with a decision to make.
The Scottish champions have also cast their eye towards Serie A. Interest has been registered in two Lazio attackers: 25-year-old forward Gustav Isaksen and 24-year-old winger Matteo Cancellieri, as Celtic explore wider options to refresh their front line and wide areas.
At the back, the goalkeeper position remains another live issue. Las Palmas want more than £4.3m plus a sell-on clause for 27-year-old Dinko Horkas, a price that underlines how costly it will be for Celtic to secure a long-term No.1.
Even established names are drawing glances from elsewhere. Reo Hatate, a key figure in Celtic’s midfield, is on West Ham United’s radar, alongside Rangers centre-half John Souttar and his brother Harry, the Leicester City and Australia defender. The Premier League club’s interest hints at another potential battle to keep a core player in Glasgow.
Danilo back to Brazil as Rangers adjust
Across the city, Rangers are reshaping their attack from a different angle.
Danilo has arrived in Brazil and is due to undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a loan move to Botafogo. The 27-year-old striker’s switch, once confirmed, will mark a sharp turn in his Rangers spell and free up room – and wages – for further Ibrox surgery in the final third.
Rangers have already felt the market’s heat elsewhere. AC Milan are closing in on Troyes defender Sankhoun Diawara, a 20-year-old centre-back who had attracted interest from both Rangers and Basel. Milan’s near-agreement with the French club leaves the Glasgow side looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.
One former Rangers loanee has already made his mark back in England. Mikey Moore, now 18, played the second half of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 friendly win over MK Dons and spoke of being “buzzing to be back”. He credited his loan spell at Ibrox with making him a better player, a small but pointed reminder of how Glasgow can harden young prospects.
Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee United chase key deals
The transfer churn is not confined to the Old Firm.
Heart of Midlothian are closing in on a deal that would hand Forest Green Rovers a record fee. Manager Robbie Savage confirmed the National League side stand to bank a sum that could rise close to seven figures if 29-year-old midfielder Laurent Mendy agrees personal terms with Hearts. For the Edinburgh club, it would be a notable midfield addition; for Forest Green, a landmark sale.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, have opened talks over 21-year-old centre-back Jadel Katongo. The England Under-20 international is currently with Kayserispor, and while discussions have started, the finances involved are described as challenging. The Dons face a steep climb if they are to land a defender of that profile from Turkey.
Dundee United’s plans hinge on a different kind of delay. The Tannadice club are still waiting on Major League Soccer approval to finalise the loan of 21-year-old left-back Philippe Ndinga from Philadelphia Union. Until MLS signs off, United’s defensive jigsaw remains incomplete.
Manager Jim Goodwin has another battle on his hands – keeping hold of the club’s newest prodigy. Lorenzo Sassetti, who became Dundee United’s youngest ever player on Tuesday at just 15, is already being tracked by several Serie A sides and clubs in the English top flight. Goodwin has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to keep him, but the scale of interest hints at a looming struggle.
Jackson stands firm as Rangers await European test
On the European front, one potential opponent has already lost a key midfielder before a ball is kicked.
Jagiellonia Bialystok confirmed that United States midfielder AZ Jackson has refused to return to Poland for pre-season after spending the second half of last season on loan at Vancouver Whitecaps. The 24-year-old will not feature against Rangers in Europa League qualifying, removing a creative option from the Polish side’s plans.
From Celtic’s pursuit of Høgh to Danilo’s return to Brazil and the scramble for the best young talent, Scotland’s summer market is moving at full tilt. The only question now is which of these gambles will still look smart when the season’s pressure bites.
