Celtic

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Celtic's potential Champions League play-off opponents became slightly clearer after the latest second qualifying round ties, including a stunning comeback win by Danish champions AGF Aarhus.

The Scottish champions already knew that Norwegian counterparts Viking Stavanger and Austria's LASK are potential opponents as both have automatically qualified for the play-off round and will be on the unseeded side of the draw.

However, three other potential opponents will be decided by matches with first legs on 4/5 August and second legs on 11 August.

AGF were 4-1 down from their first leg at home to Polish champions Lech Poznan but stunned their hosts by scoring three times in 90 minutes to take the tie into extra time on Wednesday.

Lech, for whom former Celtic winger Luis Palma played the first 68 minutes, scored first in extra-time, but the Danes equalised before winning the penalty shoot-out.

It means AGF face Sabah in the third round of qualifying, with the Azerbaijan champions having won 2-0 away to Finnish counterparts KuPS on Tuesday for a 3-0 aggregate win.

Celtic could also face the winners of the tie between Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan and Levski Sofia of Bulgaria.

Levski beat Universitatea Craiova 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw in Romania.

Meanwhile, Kairat beat Omonia Nicosia after a penalty shoot-out following a 1-0 home win levelled the tie with the Cypriots at 1-1.

One final possible opponent for Celtic could come from the tie between Celje of Slovenia or Aarat-Armenia.

Celje beat Egnatia Rrogozhinë on penalties after a 2-2 draw at home that levelled the tie at 5-5 on aggregate.

The Armenian champions won 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat away to Shamrock Rovers.

Everton, whose Scotland right-back, Nathan Patterson, is drawing strong interest from clubs in Germany, Italy and Spain, are preparing to firm up their interest in Celtic 27-year-old Alistair Johnston. (The Herald, external)

Mika Baur has informed Paderborn of his desire to join Celtic this summer after the 22-year-old midfielder agreed personal terms with the Scottish champions. (George Tsarouchas on X, external)

Mika Baur missed Paderborn's friendly with Southampon on Wednesday, but the German club's claim that the Celtic target was ill is not accurate. (Mark Hendry on X, external)

Marcelo Saracchi is poised to clinch a move to Houston Dynamo after the 28-year-old left-back's loan from Boca Juniors to Celtic. (Daily Record, external)

Out-of-favour 26-year-old Atalanta wing-back Mitchel Bakker, who had been linked with Celtic, is close to joining Marseille, according to reports in France. (Daily Record, external)

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Martin O'Neill is prioritising quality over quantity as Celtic prepare to defend their Scottish Premiership title.

The Parkhead side have made two signings this summer - Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh - for reported combined fees of around £15m.

However, talismanic forward Daizen Maeda has left to join Ipswich Town and O'Neill is keen to get high-calibre players through the door sooner rather than later.

Celtic have been linked extensively with Real Oviedo and Egypt winger Haissem Hassan as well as Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur.

"I think we're trying to get some quality into the football club," O'Neill told Sky Sports.

"We've lost Daizen, he was a big, big player for us and so we have to replace him and I think that we're doing our best to do that.

"We will get some more players in, there's no question about that also but yeah, I want quality rather than quantity."

Celtic spent a club record fee to land Hogh from Bodo/Glimt and O'Neill is excited to see what the Denmark forward will bring.

"I think it's great news for us in the football club and I think it's great news for the fans," he said.

"We want to try and improve our goal scoring obviously and I think he's the man to do it.

"I'm hoping that he will get help throughout the whole time and we're not just relying on him. Hopefully the goals will be shared around a little bit but if he is the main man, I hope he comes up."

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Striker Callum Osmand aims to continue to repaying Martin O'Neill's faith in him after a "whirlwind" first year at Celtic.

Osmand, 20, was signed from Fulham by Brendan Rodgers last summer but didn't make his debut until O'Neill's first interim spell in October.

He then scored in the League Cup semi-final victory over Rangers and started the Europa League victory at Midtjylland, but suffered a serious hamstring injury in that game and spent six months out.

The striker returned just in time for the end of the season and memorably scored the third goal in the dying seconds of the final-day decider against Hearts as Celtic won the title in dramatic style.

"It was a whirlwind," Osmand told Sky Sports of his first year in Glasgow.

"It went from me having 10 days of bliss, I jumped straight in, and then it got taken away from me which was tough. But I think I needed that to learn some things about the club, that showed me how big it really is and what the club means to everybody."

On O'Neill, Osmand added: "That's all you can ask for, someone who will give you that opportunity and that chance.

"Hopefully I get another one this season but I'll be ready whenever he calls upon me. It is massive knowing he trusts you and believes in you."

Celtic have added firepower this summer with strikers Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran the club's only summer arrivals.

But Osmand is hoping he can hold down a place in the team.

"I see myself as quite versatile," he added.

"I can play wherever is needed across the front. I will do what I do every day, keep pushing and trying to stake my claim. We've got two new lads, they're great people as well as good footballers."

Celtic fans, we asked you for your thoughts on new club-record signing Kasper Hogh.

Overall for Bodo/Glimt, the Denmark striker - who has one goal in four caps for his country - has averaged a goal every other game, netting 54 times in 103 matches.

Here is a selection of your views on the club's record addition:

Calum: Promising signing but also a potentially charged one. With so few options, an injury or an underperformance from one of these two signings (although Camilo Duran has looked class so far) has the potential to bring things with the fans to boiling point. A lot is resting on Hogh's shoulders.

Patrick: Seems like a great signing. A proven goalscorer at the top level is what we've needed for a while. Let's hope he hits the ground running and can make up for the loss of Daizen Maeda.

Kel: Great signing. Need three to four more but he and Duran are excellent players and the level of quality we should be signing.

Paul: Optimistic about Hogh. His Bodo/Glimt record is good and the Norwegian league isn't weaker than the SPFL. While we undoubtedly need a stronger squad with defensive cover across the park; a new central defender and full-back cover essential, plus an improvement to Callum McGregor in midfield (great servant and still capable but best days behind him). If Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers are fully fit that's a huge boost, and CCV will bring much-needed security to the back four, with Alistair Johnson (if we can keep him) and Kieran Tierney if he remains fit.

Brentford have knocked back a permanent bid from Celtic for defender Benjamin Arthur, who spent last season on loan at Parkhead. (Richmond and Twickenham Times), external

Celtic target Haissem Hassan will only be allowed to leave Real Oviedo on the Spanish club's terms, according to sporting director David Fernandez. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic have announced the arrival of striker Kasper Hogh and confirmed they have paid a "club record transfer" for the Denmark international.

Reports suggest the Glasgow club have paid £11m plus add-ons for the Bodo/Glimt forward, who scored five goals in last season's Champions League.

But who else has broken the signing record at Parkhead?

Before Hogh, it was Arne Engels. The Belgium midfielder joined in August 2024 from Bundesliga side Augsburg in a deal believed to be worth £11m in total.

That came two weeks after Celtic had broken their previous transfer record to sign Norwich City striker Adam Idah, after a relatively successful loan spell in Glasgow's east end, for £9.5m.

That Idah deal broke a transfer record previously set by Odsonne Edouard's £9m arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.

The striker also spent a season on loan before making the move permanent in June 2018 for what the club called "the biggest transfer in Celtic's history" - a record that had stood since John Hartson's £6m move in 2001.

Jota's return to Parkhead may not have broken the signing record but his re-signing from Al-Ittihad came close and is believed to have cost Celtic £8m. The Portuguese winger left the club in 2023 to join the Saudi Pro League side for £25m but returned less than two years later.

Celtic had initially paid £6.5m from Portuguese side Benfica for the forward in 2021.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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While unrest directed from the Celtic support towards the hierarchy has been verging on toxic, if it has not already reached that point, Martin O'Neill's side have yet to kick a ball in 2026-27 competitive action.

Nevertheless, the club have been working on a reported record deal for an incoming player.

The exit of Daizen Maeda, last season's title hero, following confirmation that Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi would not be returning to Parkhead, cranked up the fury among the fanbase.

But does Kasper Hogh's arrival suggest the club are adopting a quality-over-quantity approach?

Celtic's wage bill and financial outlay on transfer fees in recent years point towards money being spent, but perhaps not being spent wisely.

It has felt impossible for fans and pundits to defend the fact that the club had only one new face through the door just a week before their Premiership title defence begins.

However, the signings of both Camilo Duran and Hogh come with a reported combined cost of about £15m, and the pair arrive with Champions League pedigree.

Duran has impressed in pre-season after scoring five of his 15 goals for Qarabag last term in Uefa's premier club competition. Hogh netted the same number in the same tournament as Bodo/Glimt defied the odds to reach the last 16.

Two of Hogh's Champions League goals came against Manchester City, with another against Atletico Madrid and one against Inter Milan.

Overall for Bodo/Glimt, the Denmark striker - who has one goal in four caps for his country - has averaged a goal every other game, netting 54 times in 103 matches.

His underlying data and touchmaps suggest he is a penalty-box striker who has thrived in a fantastically well-coached system under Kjetil Knutsen.

O'Neill and his backroom team will back themselves to provide a platform for that success to be replicated in Scotland by their new big-money signing, whose CV shows he is capable of delivering at the highest level.

Celtic fans, how do you feel about your club's latest incoming? Send us your thoughts on Hogh.

Tino
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Top - and mostly because of Martin O'Neill. We left it all too close for comfort last season, though still managed to lift the title despite eight defeats. O'Neill won't allow for such complacency again.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

At time of writing we've only made one signing in the shape of Camilo Duran, so I'm going to opt for him. To be fair, he's looked really sharp since coming in.

What do you want from your manager this season?

To not resign, be sacked or be drafted in on an interim basis. To not be one of three different managers over four different spells across the season.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

Callum Osmand. He's shown in flashes just what he's capable of. Time to now do it on a consistent basis.

What is your one major concern?

That we see more of the unrest that threatened to derail last season. It's in the club's gift to ensure we don't see another season like last in terms of what we witnessed off the park.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Bodo/Glimt's Denmark forward Kasper Hogh, 25, passed a medical in London on Monday evening and is close to being announced as Celtic's latest signing. (Sun, external)

Former Celtic player Vidar Riseth believes Hogh is worth almost double the £11m fee the Scottish champions are set to pay Bodo/Glimt. (Record - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran could be difference-makers for Celtic in Europe.

Former Dundee and Ross County manager Tony Docherty thinks players of Duran and Hogh's quality are exactly the type of signings Celtic should be making if they want to progress in Europe, not just domestically.

Duran, who scored five goals in the Champions League for Qarabag last season, joined the club earlier this month while Hogh of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who also scored five Champions League goals, is believed to have had his medical on Sunday 26 July as he closes in on a move to the Scottish champions.

Meanwhile, Celtic have lost Daizen Maeda from their forward line after the Japan international joined Premier League side Ipswich Town.

Celtic will contest a Champions League play-off match next month for a place in the league phase of the competition, a tie they failed to come through last year after losing on penalties against Kazakhstan outfit Kairat Almaty.

But Docherty suggests the arrival of Duran, and Hogh when the deal is concluded, could be the spark Celtic need in Europe.

"I think when Celtic fans are talking about going to the next stage it's not just about domestically winning trophies," Docherty told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Because they should have won a treble last year so it's about going that little bit further. That's going to take a quality of player I think they need to bring in.

"Of course they're losing real quality in Maeda but they're bringing in these two that I think are quality and could be difference makers.

"Everybody's looking for that special player at the top end of the pitch, they're the ones that win the games."

Celtic fans, we asked for your views after Daizen Maeda's move to promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town was confirmed.

Here's what some of you had to say:

James: Nothing short of a legend in my opinion. Not the most technically gifted player but has an abundance of energy, pace, and a relentlessly tireless attitude that more than make up for it. I have been taken with Maeda more or less since his first appearance for us. While not every performance was a 10 out of 10, I rarely saw less than a six out of 10 from him. I am sad to see him go and send him off with well wishes and a hope that he gets lots of game time down there to prove his worth, more to himself than anyone else.

Ian: Daizen Maeda was appallingly let down by Celtic at the last minute and he struggled initially last season. However, when things were looking iffy for retaining the league, he (almost) single-handedly dug Celtic out of the mire, together with Martin O'Neill's influence and power of personality. We owe him big time and he is welcome back at Celtic Park anytime.

Alec: £10million for a player in the last year of his contract is good business. However I am not sure Celtic will ever be able to replace his energy, goals maybe, but not his energy and that is most worrying of all.

Eddie: The overhead goal against Rangers was a thing of pure beauty and I was so happy to have been present that day to witness that goal. Players like Maeda with those type of skills you don't get to see that often in Scotland and I'm privileged to have witnessed a true Celtic great these past four seasons.

Gordy: Daizen will be remembered for his total commitment to the Celtic cause, he was a great player for the first season and a fantastic player for the rest of his time at Parkhead. His non-stop running and goals will always be remembered and I would like to thank him for his contribution to the many victories and trophies he helped provide, he will be sorely missed. Along with every Celtic supporter I wish him every success at Ipswich.

Sandy: Without the talent of some, his approach to the game is second to none. An incredible athlete with an appetite to win beyond most, he earned every penny and medal he won in a Celtic jersey. He'll be a huge miss, £10m is an absolute steal. In three months there will be much bigger clubs than Ipswich thinking "how did we miss him?" On top of that, a humble man of dignity and courage.

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Paderborn sporting director Sebastian Lange has confirmed they turned down a £4m bid from Celtic for 22-year-old midfielder Mika Baur. (Glasgow Times, external)

Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh has arrived in the UK before his £11m move to Celtic and the 25-year-old Denmark international is to undergo a medical on Monday. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Egypt winger Haissem Hassan has agreed a four-year contract with Celtic, although some bonus elements of a transfer fee for the 24-year-old are still to be agreed with Real Oviedo. (George Tsarouchas on X, external)

Celtic have reached an agreement with Real Oviedo over the transfer of Hassan and the player has also agreed personal terms with the club, but the Scottish champions need to move quickly to finalise the bonus structure, with Liverpool and several other clubs also monitoring the winger. (Fuad Alakbarov, external)

Reports suggesting Celtic have reached an agreement with Real Oviedo to sign Hassan are wide of the mark. (Record, external)

Celtic are continuing to work on a deal to sign Real Oviedo winger Hassan. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Celtic will return with an offer close to £4.7m for Hassan after Real Oviedo rejected a £3.4m bid. (Christian Vaquero on X, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expects the full contingent of his World Cup players to be in training next week before the new Scottish Premiership season kicks-off.

South Korea winger Yang Hyun-jun, Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren, Canada right-back Alistair Johnston and United States defender Auston Trusty have not featured in any of the club's pre-season games.

Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney and Tunisia winger Sebastian Tounekti both started in Saturday's 2-2 friendly draw with AC Milan.

"Trusty comes back on Monday," said O'Neill. "He's had some family things. I've given him a little bit of extra time, which I think he's deserved.

"Nygren's here. He didn't play, he's got a bit of an Achilles problem. I think he's OK. I don't think it's massive.

"Kieran played for 60 minutes. I was hoping that Alistair might have played maybe 20 minutes, he was ready for it but I have to be guided by our sports science guys.

"Yang's back. He's done some training. A little bit of a hiccup there a couple of days ago, but he'll be fine.

"I'm probably less concerned about those boys because they have played matches in the World Cup. You take a little bit of a break and the last thing you want to do is be rushing them back. By Monday, I think everybody will be back."

While Celtic are gearing up for the defence of their title, which starts at home to Dundee on 3 August, O'Neill has been impressed by some of the club's younger players.

Thomas Hatton and Sean McArdle caught the eye as substitutes in wide positions against Milan.

"I just congratulated Tam for his spell on the field," O'Neill said. "He's prepared to take people on, which is great. I think that's like a dying art. So he'll get all the encouragement in the world. He's a young lad making his way in the game. Really encouraging.

"Obviously there's a battle on to try to get into the side like anything else, but I was really impressed with him. As I've been impressed with his attitude during the whole pre-season."

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Celtic have agreed a record £11m-plus fee with Bodo/Glimt for 25-year-old striker Kasper Hogh. Scottish Sun, external

Kasper Hogh was due to travel to Scotland on Saturday night to complete his move to Celtic from Bodo/Glimt and will sign a four-year contract with the option of a further one. Luca Bendoni on X, external

Celtic have intensified talks with Las Palmas for 27-year-old goalkeeper Dinko Horkas. La Provincia - in Spanish, external

Celtic's initial enquiry for 27-year-old AEK Athens left-back James Penrice has not been followed up and a deal is not expected to progress now. Ben Jacobs on X, external

Lazio have set a transfer valuation of £13m for Matteo Cancellieri, the 24-year-old winger reported to be a Celtic target. Glasgow Times, external

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Kasper Hogh's career has been a slow burner since he came through the youth ranks with local club Randers but was sold to second-tier Hobro after an injury hit spell, including a loan to Valur in Iceland.

Now the 25-year-old Denmark striker is poised for a medical pending a big-money transfer from Bodo/Glimt to Celtic.

A move to Danish Superliga club AaB had followed in January 2022, but he was on the move again a year later, this time to Stabaek, who had just been promoted to the Norwegian Eliteserien.

It was there that Hogh's career took off as they exercised their purchase option only six months into his year-long loan after he scored eight goals in 14 games.

Within another three months, he signed a pre-contract agreement with Bodø/Glimt to join their top-flight rivals in January 2024.

Hogh would finish the season as his new club's top scorer with 12 goals as they retained the Norwegian title - and his seven goals in the Europa League made him the competition's joint top marksman as they reached the semi-finals.

He was also the club's top scorer for 2025 with 17 goals, albeit Bodo/Glimt finished second, one point behind Viking.

In January, he grabbed a double in a 3-1 Champions League win over Manchester City and the following week netted again in a 2-1 win away to Atletico Madrid.

Hogh was first called up to Denmark's senior national squad in March and made his debut as a late substitute in a 4–0 win over North Macedonia.

In his second appearance, he came off the bench to head Denmark's equaliser in their World Cup play-off final against the Czech Republic only for his side to lose out in a penalty shoot-out.

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Summer signing Camilo Duran scored again as Celtic let a two-goal lead slip in an entertaining pre-season friendly with Ruben Amorim's AC Milan.

The Colombian forward scored his third goal in the space of three warm-up fixtures by capitalising on slack defending from the Italian visitors at Parkhead.

Duran then turned provider by rolling a pass into the path of veteran winger James Forrest to put Celtic two goals ahead.

However, two goals in five second-half minutes from teenage Italy international Francesco Camarda levelled the contest.

The first came from the penalty spot after Cameron Carter-Vickers fouled the youngster, who then netted a quickfire equaliser with a header.

The match marks the end of Celtic's pre-season action, during which they have failed to win in four games against Shelbourne, Sporting, Middlesborough and Milan.

The Parkhead club confirmed Daizen Maeda's departure to Ipswich Town earlier on Saturday, while reports suggest they are about to spend a record transfer fee on Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh.

The Denmark forward would become Celtic's second summer arrival following the signing of Duran, who has impressed since his arrival.

The Scottish Premiership champions' title defence starts on Monday, 3 August (19:30 BST) when they welcome Dundee.