Celtic leads the pursuit for Kasper Hogh, the Bodo/Glimt forward who has shone in the Champions League this season, scoring six goals in 14 European matches. However, the Glasgow club faces stiff competition. Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, noted that multiple teams across Europe are monitoring Hogh.
Celtic Engages in Competitive Race for Bodo/Glimt’s Champions League Striker
According to O’Rourke, Bodo/Glimt has the upper hand; the Norwegian club is not under pressure to sell, thanks to significant prize money from their successful European campaign. They aim to remain competitive next season. O’Rourke pointed out that Hogh’s remarkable performances against top teams like Manchester City and Arsenal-are-keeping-tabs-on-this-atletico-madrid-forward-should-arteta-snap-him-up/”>Atletico Madrid have drawn attention from top-flight clubs.
He added that elite league teams are prepared to contest Celtic’s interest as soon as Bodo indicates a willingness to negotiate. O’Rourke anticipates a transfer fee of approximately £10 million, while transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio has separately confirmed that Celtic leads the chase, although Hearts remain interested as well.
“He’s under a contract at Bodo until 2029, and the Norwegian club are under no real pressure to sell Hogh now because they enjoyed such a successful run in the Champions League.
“It has really boosted their financial coffers, and they will be looking to have another crack at the Champions League next season as well, so they will want to keep hold of Hogh for that.
“It’s going to be a difficult one for Celtic to do due to the price tag, and I think because of what he did in Europe last season with Bodo/Glimt in big wins against the likes of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
“A lot of clubs across Europe will be looking at Hogh, and if there’s any opportunity that he could leave Bodo, I’m sure there’ll be clubs in some of those top leagues who’d be ready to rival Celtic for his signature.”
Assessing the Risk of a £10m Striker for Celtic
Celtic has been on the lookout for a reliable centre-forward since Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure to Birmingham City last summer, relying on Kelechi Iheanacho, Tomas Cvancara, and several loan players with varying success. Hogh, a 25-year-old forward with 50 goals in 98 matches for Bodo, seems to fit the bill for this gap.
His scoring ability, European experience, and clever positioning align with Celtic’s tactical approach. However, it is important to note that Hogh has netted only three goals in the Eliteserien this season, from an expected goals (xG) total of 4.65. This raises concerns about his efficiency against weaker domestic teams, which could pose challenges against similar defensive setups in the Scottish Premiership.
The future permanent manager of Celtic will play a crucial role in this transfer decision. A manager who emphasizes high-pressing, attacking football would best exploit Hogh’s skills. At £10 million, this transfer would set a new record for Celtic, compelling the board to weigh whether he offers better value compared to other established options in Europe before the transfer window opens.
Celtic Must Act Quickly Before Bigger Clubs Intensify Interest