Bend It Like Bogusz- watch the overnight goal scored by Celtic’s LAFC transfer target

After a day of speculation that he was being targeted to replace Matt O’Riley at Celtic, Mateusz Bogusz popped in a great goal for LAFC in their 4-0 win over Colorado Rapids.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box the Pole showed great composure to send a low right foot shot across goal, curling into the net at the far post to give his side the lead three minutes before half-time.

A price tag in the region of £9m is being quoted for Bogusz who has found his feet and more in the MLS after spells in England and Spain after leaving Poland as a teenager.

The midfielder turns 23 today but has already been at Leeds United with a loan stint at Ibiza included before he moved to LAFC for £1m in March 2023.

That deal seems to have worked out perfectly for the Polish u-21 internationalist, last night’s goal was his 15th in 29 matches this season, bolstered by six assists which are the sort of stats Celtic seem about to lose with O’Riley strongly linked with a move to Brighton.

Before the goal against Colorado Rapids, Scott Burns of the Daily Record reported:

Celtic are pushing to striking a deal for £8million-rated LAFC star Mateusz Bogusz.

The Hoops are in talks with the Major League Soccer outfit for their prized asset. The Pole has previously had experience with Leeds United and is keen for another crack at a big European club. Talks are progressing well and there are unlikely to be any issues on agreeing personal terms with a 22-year-old. He could join fellow Pole Maik Nawrocki at Celtic Park.

Brendan Rodgers said after the weekend win over Hibs that he wanted to bring in another midfielder. That could be added to if Matt O’Riley is sold. Brighton and Celtic remain in discussions to see if a club record deal sale can be struck for the Hoops midfielder. Augsburg midfielder Arne Engels is very much on the radar but would need to be funded by the sale of O’Riley, with Celtic also keeping close tabs of Lausanne midfielder Alvyn Sanchez.

There aren’t many specifics in that report but it does highlight Rodgers saying that if he lost O’Riley he would be expecting two midfielders to fill the gap left by the departing former MK Dons midfielder.

Thirteen weeks after the Scottish Cup Final time is at a premium for Celtic’s transfer efforts with barely a week left to complete deals before the 11.30pm August 30 deadline.

Although Bogusz is at the same age as many of last season’s doomed project signings does have a decent pedigree and would be coming to Celtic with a place identified for him in Celtic’s Starting XI.

With a contract running through until 31 December 2026 LAFC are in the driving seat in transfer negotiations but after a relatively low profile arrival in the MLS Celtic should be able to offer a significant salary hike on the back of a £9m fee which also offers his current club a profit of £8m just 18 months after signing Bogusz.