Celtic’s £8m striker target’s price drops as Hogh emerges as an alternative amid Greg Taylor transfer talks.

Celtic’s transfer activity is gathering pace as the start of the new Scottish Premiership season rapidly approaches, with the club continuing to explore multiple options in both attack and defense. While negotiations remain ongoing for Bodø/Glimt striker Kasper Høgh, developments in the Netherlands have also reopened the possibility of a move for Ajax forward Kasper Dolberg, whose future in Amsterdam appears far from certain.

The Danish striker has long been admired by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, with interest in the experienced forward stretching back to last summer. At that time, Dolberg had emerged as one of the club’s preferred attacking targets after Adam Idah was allowed to complete a move to Swansea City, leaving Rodgers eager to strengthen his forward line before the transfer window closed.

Kasper Dolberg(Image: BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

Celtic were prepared to press ahead with a deal to bring Dolberg to Glasgow from Anderlecht. However, the move never materialized because Ajax entered negotiations at the last moment and successfully convinced the striker to return to the Dutch club. The Eredivisie giants reportedly paid around £8 million to complete the transfer, ending Celtic’s hopes of securing his signature.

Although expectations were high following his return to Amsterdam, Dolberg struggled to establish himself as a regular starter throughout the campaign. He made only 12 starts in league competition and frequently found himself behind experienced Netherlands international Wout Weghorst in the pecking order.

Despite limited opportunities, the 28-year-old still contributed five goals over the course of the season. Nevertheless, his reduced role has fueled speculation that Ajax could be willing to part ways with the striker during the current transfer window if a suitable offer arrives.

Reports have linked Danish side Midtjylland with an interest in signing Dolberg, while suggestions from the Netherlands indicate Ajax may now be prepared to accept considerably less than the £8 million they invested only a year ago. Such a reduction in asking price could potentially make the striker a far more attractive option for clubs searching for proven experience.

Even amid growing uncertainty regarding his future, Dolberg was unexpectedly included in Ajax’s starting lineup for the club’s opening competitive fixture of the new campaign. He led the attack during a convincing 4-1 victory over Serbian outfit FK Vojvodina in the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds.

Interestingly, high-profile summer signing Marcos Leonardo was absent from the starting eleven despite arriving with significant expectations. Following the match, Ajax head coach Michel explained that Leonardo’s omission was simply due to a lack of training time rather than any tactical decision.

Speaking after the victory, the Ajax manager also addressed ongoing speculation surrounding Dolberg’s future. Rather than confirming whether the striker would remain at the club, Michel admitted there was still considerable uncertainty regarding several members of his squad.

He explained that his immediate focus remains on working with the players currently available rather than speculating about possible departures. According to Michel, Dolberg remains an important member of the group for as long as he stays in Amsterdam, and the coaching staff expect him to continue contributing whenever selected.

The manager also emphasized that he expects high standards from the Danish international whenever he features, making it clear that Dolberg remains fully involved despite ongoing transfer rumors.

Those comments have naturally reignited speculation surrounding Celtic’s long-standing interest. With Ajax seemingly open to discussing the player’s future and reports suggesting his valuation has dropped significantly, Rodgers could once again consider pursuing the striker should circumstances become favorable.

However, Dolberg is not the only forward under serious consideration. Celtic continue to prioritize negotiations with Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt over the possible signing of Kasper Høgh, who has emerged as one of the club’s leading transfer targets this summer.

Discussions over a substantial deal remain ongoing, with Celtic hopeful of reaching an agreement that would bring the prolific Danish striker to Parkhead before the new season gets fully underway. Høgh’s goalscoring exploits have attracted widespread attention, making him one of the most sought-after attackers currently playing in Scandinavia.

PAOK defender Greg Taylor

As a result, Celtic’s recruitment team continues evaluating multiple attacking options to ensure they strengthen one of the squad’s most important positions before the transfer window closes.

The club’s business is not limited to the forward line either. Rodgers is also keen to reinforce the left-back position, with James Penrice among the names currently being linked with a move to Glasgow.

At the same time, fresh speculation has emerged surrounding Greg Taylor’s future following developments in Greece. Reports initially suggested the former Celtic defender could potentially return to Parkhead after unexpectedly missing PAOK’s Europa League qualifying victory against Dynamo Kyiv.

The absence immediately sparked rumors that Taylor could be on the verge of leaving the Greek club, leading to suggestions that a reunion with Celtic might be possible.

However, Greek publication Ta Nea later reported that the situation was unrelated to transfer negotiations. According to the report, Taylor informed club officials before the match that he was unavailable because he was dealing with a personal matter, with PAOK fully supporting his request and allowing him time away from football.

Even so, discussion about a possible return to Celtic has continued, particularly after former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae suggested such a move could benefit both player and club.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Rae argued that Taylor would provide valuable depth behind first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney. While acknowledging Tierney’s impressive performances and attacking contributions during the previous campaign, Rae believes having an experienced deputy familiar with Celtic’s tactical approach would strengthen the squad.

He admitted, however, that Taylor would almost certainly return as a backup rather than expecting to immediately reclaim a regular starting position. Rae pointed out that Tierney’s quality makes him difficult to displace, meaning any returning player would need to accept a supporting role.

According to Rae, concerns over regular playing time were one of the primary reasons Taylor originally left Celtic. Unfortunately, his move to Greece has not produced the consistent opportunities he may have expected, with the defender featuring in only 14 matches during the previous season.

That limited involvement has inevitably raised questions about whether remaining at PAOK is the best option for the Scottish international moving forward.

Rae believes a return to Glasgow would provide Taylor with a familiar environment where he already understands the club’s tactical demands, particularly the inverted full-back role that became one of his strengths during his previous spell at Celtic.

He also suggested supporters would welcome the defender back, especially after the club experimented with several temporary solutions in the position over recent seasons. In Rae’s opinion, Taylor represents a reliable and proven option capable of providing strong competition and dependable cover whenever required.

With only days remaining before the Premiership campaign begins, Celtic appear determined to complete several important pieces of business. Whether that ultimately involves Kasper Høgh, Kasper Dolberg, James Penrice, Greg Taylor, or a combination of those names remains to be seen, but the Scottish champions are clearly working hard to ensure Rodgers has a stronger and more balanced squad ready for the challenges ahead.