Schalke 04 are emerging as the favourites to sign Mathias Kvistgaarden when the January transfer window opens.
The Brondby striker has a modest scoring record of five goals in 17 league matches this season but at the age of 21 he fits into a similar profile as Celtic’s summer signings such as Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio and Yang Hyun-jun.
During the summer window there were suggestions that Celtic had a bid in the region of £4m rejected, strangely Mark Lawwell never switched attention to any other striker with that area of the squad not bolstered.
While most areas of Brendan Rodgers’ squad is in need of new faces in January there is a particular emphasis in the striker position with the first three options expected to be at the Asian Cup which runs into February.
Celtic look like being without Kyogo Furuhashi, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Daizen Maeda for home matches against Buckie Thistle and Ross County followed by Aberdeen and Hibs away.
🚨Mathias Kvistgaarden Celtic transfer dilly-dally sees Schalke steal March on January move – as Hoops priced out of another familiar striker target
Full story @Football_Scot https://t.co/r1lHboOuWZ
— Mark Hendry (@mhendry92) December 18, 2023
Mathias Kvistgaarden remains on Celtic’s transfer wishlist for next month – but Schalke have stolen a march on the Hoops.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are in need of at least one new striker with the likes of Kyogo, Oh and Daizen Maeda all off to the Asian Cup in early 2024. One key target previously sought after is Kvistgaarden who has impressed for Brondby since the summer.
Celts were keen to do business and bring the attacker to Glasgow but after their initial £4million bid was turfed out they refused to up that offer and negotiations broke down.
Football Scotland exclusively told you how the Scottish giants have indicated to Brondby of their intentions to improve on that offer when the window opens but they now face serious competition.
We told you exclusively how German clubs in the Bundesliga had been keeping tabs on the 21-year-old and now we can reveal that Schalke have approached the player’s representatives in a bid to smooth a path towards a move next month.
There has been an official enquiry from the second-tier German outfit and they have sent scouts to watch the player in person on more than one occasion in November .
Football Scotland can also reveal Celtic reached out to Sturm Graz in an effort to revisit another former transfer target, Szymon Wlodarczyk, but were told his valuation has sky-rocketed to around £15million which would financially be out of their reach in January.
Over the previous two seasons Celtic have announced January signings in advance of the January window opening, from the content above it appears that no deals are waiting to be rubber stamped.
CLICK HERE for Kvistgaarden’s Transfermarkt profile.
