Celtic close to finalizing another major signing following Kasper Høgh, as attacker agrees four-year deal.

Celtic’s summer transfer business appears to be gathering serious momentum, with the Scottish champions reportedly closing in on another major signing shortly after moving to secure the services of Bodø/Glimt striker Kasper Høgh. Following a busy few days of transfer activity, the club now looks set to continue strengthening Martin O’Neill’s squad ahead of the start of the new Premiership season.

The Hoops have experienced a mixture of highs and lows during the latest transfer developments. While supporters recently learned that influential forward Daizen Maeda has completed a move to Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town, optimism quickly returned after reports suggested Celtic were on the verge of completing a club-record deal for Høgh.

Now, fresh reports indicate that another exciting arrival could soon follow, with Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan emerging as the latest player expected to join the Scottish champions.

Celtic have been heavily linked with the talented wide attacker in recent weeks as the club continues searching for reinforcements capable of adding creativity, pace, and attacking quality to the squad. With Maeda departing and the club eager to improve several positions before the new campaign begins, Hassan has become one of the most closely watched transfer targets.

The Egyptian international enhanced his reputation with a series of impressive performances during the recent World Cup, where he attracted attention through his pace, dribbling ability, and attacking threat from wide areas. His displays have resulted in growing interest from several clubs, but Celtic are believed to have moved into the strongest position to complete the transfer.

According to journalist George Tsarouchas, negotiations have progressed significantly, with both the player and his current club now edging closer to an agreement that would allow the move to be finalized.

Tsarouchas reports that Hassan has already accepted Celtic’s contract proposal, agreeing in principle to a four-year deal at Parkhead. The remaining discussions are believed to focus primarily on bonus-related clauses rather than the overall structure of the transfer itself.

Real Oviedo are also reportedly prepared to approve the deal once those final details are settled, suggesting the transfer is approaching its final stages.

Should the move be completed, Hassan would become another significant addition during what is shaping up to be one of Celtic’s busiest transfer windows in recent years. His arrival would also provide Martin O’Neill with another versatile attacking option capable of operating across the forward line.

The potential signing follows closely behind Celtic’s pursuit of Kasper Høgh, with the Danish striker expected to become the club’s record signing. Høgh has enjoyed an outstanding rise in recent seasons, particularly through his goalscoring exploits in European competition with Bodø/Glimt.

His performances have convinced Celtic that he possesses the qualities required to strengthen the team’s attacking department, particularly after periods last season when the club struggled to consistently convert opportunities into goals.

Speaking after Saturday’s pre-season draw against AC Milan, O’Neill discussed the importance of recruiting players capable of making an immediate impact. Although he avoided confirming specific transfer details, the Celtic manager made it clear that the club is targeting footballers with proven quality and significant experience.

He explained that players who have demonstrated their ability at Champions League level naturally fit the profile Celtic are searching for. Bringing in footballers with that pedigree, he believes, should provide excitement for supporters while increasing the overall quality within the squad.

O’Neill also reflected on one of the biggest problems Celtic encountered throughout much of the previous campaign. According to the manager, the team frequently struggled to score enough goals despite creating opportunities, making the search for a reliable striker one of the club’s highest priorities.

Although Daizen Maeda enjoyed an outstanding finish to the season and produced several important goals during the closing weeks, O’Neill admitted the squad often lacked a traditional centre-forward capable of consistently leading the attack.

For that reason, adding a proven goalscorer such as Høgh would represent an important step toward solving one of the team’s biggest weaknesses heading into the new season.

The manager acknowledged that finding high-quality players at affordable prices remains one of the greatest challenges facing Celtic’s recruitment team. Competition throughout the transfer market continues to increase, making it difficult to secure talented footballers without significant financial investment.

Despite those challenges, O’Neill expressed confidence in the club’s recruitment department. He revealed that several additional deals remain under discussion and suggested more transfers could be completed in the near future if negotiations continue progressing positively.

Those comments have naturally increased anticipation among supporters, many of whom hope Høgh and Hassan will be only the beginning of a wider recruitment drive before the transfer window closes.

While excitement surrounds potential arrivals, Celtic have also had to deal with the departure of one of their most influential players.

Daizen Maeda officially completed his move to Ipswich Town after several successful years at Celtic Park, ending a memorable spell during which he established himself as one of the club’s hardest-working and most popular performers.

Reflecting on Maeda’s departure, O’Neill admitted the Japanese international will be greatly missed both on and off the pitch. The manager praised his professionalism, commitment, and contribution throughout his time at the club.

O’Neill also revealed that Celtic had made significant efforts to convince Maeda to remain in Glasgow. According to the manager, the club offered the forward an improved contract around 16 months before his departure in an attempt to secure his long-term future.

However, Maeda made it clear that he wanted to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues if the opportunity became available. His ambition was to play either in the Premier League or Germany’s Bundesliga, making a move away from Scotland increasingly likely once suitable interest emerged.

Although disappointed to lose such an important player, O’Neill emphasized that he is genuinely pleased Maeda has achieved his ambition. He believes the forward fully deserved the opportunity after making such a valuable contribution to Celtic over several seasons.

The manager also predicted that Ipswich supporters will quickly appreciate what Maeda brings to their team, both through his ability on the field and his character away from it.

His departure undoubtedly leaves a significant gap within Celtic’s attacking options, but the club’s aggressive approach in the transfer market demonstrates a determination to replace that quality as quickly as possible.

If Høgh completes his expected move and Hassan follows shortly afterward, Celtic will have added two exciting attacking talents capable of reshaping the team’s forward line.

With the Scottish Premiership season now approaching rapidly, the club is working hard to ensure Martin O’Neill enters the new campaign with a stronger, deeper, and more balanced squad.

Supporters will now watch developments closely, hoping negotiations for both Høgh and Hassan are completed quickly while additional targets currently “in the pipeline” also become new arrivals at Parkhead before the transfer window closes. The coming weeks promise to be crucial as Celtic continue building a squad capable of challenging successfully both domestically and in European competition.