An £8m star is prepared to sign a 4-year contract to join Celtic, making Hogh unstoppable.

Celtic Close in on Major Summer Signing Ahead of Season Opener

Celtic are edging closer to completing another significant piece of business before beginning their Scottish Premiership title defense. With the new campaign set to get underway against Dundee next week, the club appears determined to strengthen Martin O’Neill’s squad with players capable of making an immediate impact.

The Scottish champions have already agreed a deal with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt for striker Kasper Hogh. The transfer package is believed to be worth more than £11 million once performance-related bonuses are included, making it one of Celtic’s biggest investments of the summer.

Only the final formalities remain, including a medical examination, before the Danish forward is officially unveiled as the club’s latest arrival.

Hogh Follows Duran Through the Door

Hogh will not be the first striker to arrive at Parkhead during this transfer window. Earlier in the summer, Celtic completed the signing of Colombian forward Camilo Duran from Qarabag in a deal valued at around £6 million.

Although Duran has the versatility to operate on the wing, his preferred position is through the middle as a traditional number nine. That means he and Hogh are expected to compete directly for the central striking role in O’Neill’s preferred tactical systems, whether the manager opts for a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation.

Competition between the two forwards should increase standards within the squad while giving Celtic greater attacking depth across a demanding season.

Duran Has Made a Bright Early Impression

Since arriving in Glasgow, Duran has wasted little time showcasing his finishing ability. The Colombian has found the net in three consecutive pre-season matches, continuing his encouraging adaptation to Scottish football.

One of those goals came during Celtic’s entertaining 2-2 draw against AC Milan, further boosting confidence that he could become an important player.

Despite those impressive displays, pre-season form alone may not guarantee him a place in the starting lineup once competitive football begins.

During the 2025/26 campaign with Qarabag, Duran scored nine league goals and supplied five assists in 30 appearances. While those numbers represent a solid return, they fall short of the elite scoring levels expected from a leading striker at Celtic.

Hogh’s Goal Record Makes Him a Strong Contender

Hogh arrives with a reputation as one of Scandinavian football’s most reliable finishers.

The Danish international scored 17 league goals during the 2025 Eliteserien season, finishing just one strike behind the division’s Golden Boot winner. His excellent form has continued into the current campaign, where he has already registered seven goals in only 12 league matches before completing his move to Scotland.

Those statistics underline his consistency in front of goal and explain why Celtic have been willing to invest heavily in securing his services.

Compared to Duran’s recent scoring numbers, Hogh appears to offer a greater guarantee of regular goals, making him the favorite to lead the attack when Celtic begin their Premiership campaign against Dundee.

Celtic Continue Pursuit of Haissem Hassan

While strengthening the striker position has been a priority, Celtic are also working to improve the creativity surrounding whoever starts up front.

Reports indicate that negotiations remain ongoing with Real Oviedo regarding the transfer of Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan.

The proposed deal is expected to be worth approximately £8 million, reflecting the club’s belief that Hassan possesses the quality required to strengthen the first team immediately.

Personal terms are reportedly no obstacle, with the winger understood to have already agreed a four-year contract that will become active once the clubs finalize the transfer fee.

That development leaves Celtic optimistic about completing another important signing before the transfer window closes.

Hassan Could Transform Celtic’s Right Wing

If the move is completed, Hassan would provide Celtic with a different attacking profile on the right side.

The winger is known for his direct running, dribbling ability and willingness to create opportunities for teammates. Rather than simply stretching defenses, he consistently looks to deliver dangerous crosses and incisive passes into the penalty area.

Those qualities could significantly improve Celtic’s attacking balance while giving Hogh the consistent service required to maximize his strengths inside the box.

Adding a creative winger alongside an accomplished finisher could dramatically increase Celtic’s attacking threat throughout the season.

Creativity Was Missing Last Season

Although Celtic successfully retained the Scottish Premiership title, the team occasionally lacked creativity from wide positions.

Hyun-jun Yang and veteran James Forrest shared responsibilities on the right flank throughout much of the previous campaign. However, together they produced only two league assists, an underwhelming return considering the attacking dominance Celtic usually enjoy in domestic competition.

That shortage of creativity limited the opportunities available to the club’s forwards.

As a result, none of Celtic’s strikers managed to score more than 14 league goals, while midfielder Benjamin Nygren unexpectedly finished as one of the team’s leading scorers with 16 goals.

Improving the quality of service into the penalty area has therefore become an obvious priority this summer.

Hassan’s Statistics Suggest Greater Potential

Despite representing a Real Oviedo side that struggled throughout the La Liga season and eventually suffered relegation, Hassan still produced encouraging creative numbers.

He accumulated an expected assists figure of 3.22 while directly setting up three league goals. He also ranked highly for successful dribbles, completed crosses and touches inside the opposition penalty area.

Those figures become even more impressive when considering the limitations of the team around him.

Moving to Celtic would place Hassan in a far more attack-minded side that dominates possession, creates significantly more chances and spends far longer in advanced areas.

Such an environment could allow the Egyptian international to increase both his assist total and overall attacking influence.

A Partnership That Could Elevate Celtic

Should both Hogh and Hassan arrive before the season begins, Celtic could possess one of the Premiership’s most dangerous attacking combinations.

Hogh’s movement and clinical finishing would complement Hassan’s creativity and ability to supply quality deliveries into dangerous areas.

The winger would benefit from having a proven goalscorer making intelligent runs inside the box, while the striker would enjoy more consistent service than Celtic’s forwards received last season.

Developing that understanding could quickly turn both players into key figures within Martin O’Neill’s system.

New Arrivals Could Strengthen Celtic’s Title Defense

Celtic’s transfer strategy appears focused on addressing weaknesses that became evident during the previous campaign.

By adding a prolific striker in Hogh alongside a creative wide player such as Hassan, the Scottish champions would significantly improve both chance creation and finishing efficiency.

With stronger attacking options, greater competition for places and increased squad depth, Celtic would place themselves in an even stronger position to defend their league crown.

If the planned transfers are completed, the partnership between Haissem Hassan and Kasper Hogh could become one of the defining stories of the upcoming Scottish Premiership season, helping Celtic pursue domestic success with greater confidence and attacking firepower.