Celtic and Rangers Transfer Updates: Key Moves and Targets
Celtic and Rangers are locked in another summer of change, and this one already feels decisive.
Celtic reshape their front line
At Celtic Park, the champions are preparing for life after Daizen Maeda while moving aggressively to land their next No 9.
Kasper Høgh is closing in on a move from Bodø/Glimt, with Celtic holding talks over a deal for the 25-year-old Dane valued at around £7m. He stayed on the bench on Thursday as the Norwegian champions eased to a 3-0 win over HamKam, a clear sign that his future lies elsewhere. Celtic have tracked him since January. Now they are finally trying to close.
Høgh’s potential arrival comes as Maeda’s departure nears the finish line. The Japan international landed in London on Thursday to undergo a medical ahead of a £10m switch to Ipswich Town. The 28-year-old’s exit could be confirmed as early as Friday, drawing a line under a Celtic spell defined by relentless running and big-game moments.
Celtic’s rebuild does not stop there. Talks with Paderborn over midfielder Mika Baur remain stuck, with the newly promoted Bundesliga side rejecting a £4m offer and making it clear they would rather lose the 22-year-old for nothing next summer than sell below their valuation. Celtic will have to decide whether to push harder or walk away.
Wide options are also under review. Interest has been registered in two Lazio players: 25-year-old forward Gustav Isaksen and 24-year-old winger Matteo Cancellieri. Neither will come cheap, but both fit the profile of high-energy, attacking players who can slot into a front three.
In goal, Celtic’s pursuit of Dinko Horkaš has hit a familiar obstacle: price. Las Palmas want more than £4.3m and a sell-on clause for the 27-year-old, a package that forces the Scottish champions to weigh value against need as they consider their long-term solution between the posts.
West Ham eye Glasgow steel
The Premier League has also turned its gaze on Glasgow’s defensive core. Reo Hatate, John Souttar and his brother Harry are all on West Ham United’s radar this summer.
Hatate has long been viewed as one of Celtic’s most technically gifted midfielders, while Rangers centre-half John Souttar and Leicester City’s Australia international Harry Souttar offer contrasting but complementary defensive profiles. Whether West Ham firm up that interest remains to be seen, but the attention underlines the growing market value of Scottish-based talent.
Danilo heads home as Rangers reset
Across the city, Rangers are making moves of their own, starting with a departure.
Striker Danilo has arrived in Brazil and is set to undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a loan move to Botafogo. The 27-year-old’s time at Ibrox has been disrupted by injury and inconsistency. A return to his homeland offers a reset for the player and frees up room in Rangers’ forward department as they remodel the squad.
Rangers have also watched from afar as AC Milan close in on a deal for highly rated Troyes centre-back Sankhoun Diawara. The 20-year-old had attracted interest from both Rangers and Basel, but Milan are now on the brink of an agreement, a reminder of the competition Scottish clubs face when chasing Europe’s emerging talent.
Mikey Moore, meanwhile, has already felt that pressure. Back at Tottenham Hotspur after his loan at Rangers, the 18-year-old winger played the second half of Spurs’ 1-0 friendly win over MK Dons and spoke of being “buzzing to be back” and a better player for his time in Glasgow. His brief spell in Scotland may yet prove a turning point in his development.
Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee United chase their targets
Further down the Premiership ladder, the transfer market is just as intense.
Heart of Midlothian are closing in on a potentially record-breaking deal for Forest Green Rovers. Manager Robbie Savage has confirmed the National League club will bank a fee that could rise close to seven figures if 29-year-old midfielder Laurent Mendy agrees personal terms with Hearts. For Forest Green, it would be a landmark sale; for Hearts, a statement that they intend to strengthen their grip on the European places.
Aberdeen are pushing to reinforce at the back. Talks have been opened over a move for 21-year-old centre-half Jadel Katongo from Kayserispor. The England Under-20 international fits the profile of the modern defender, but the finances involved are proving a major obstacle. Aberdeen want him; paying for him is the hard part.
Dundee United, newly back in the top flight, are waiting on an answer from across the Atlantic. The Tannadice club are still awaiting Major League Soccer approval to complete a loan move for 21-year-old left-back Philippe Ndinga from Philadelphia Union. The deal is agreed in principle, but until MLS signs it off, United must wait.
Manager Jim Goodwin has one eye on the future as well as the present. He has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to keep Lorenzo Sassetti at the club after the forward became Dundee United’s youngest ever player on Tuesday at just 15 years old. With several Serie A and Premier League clubs tracking him, United face a battle to hold on to a teenager who has barely kicked a ball in senior football.
European subplots and absentees
On the continent, one decision has already shaped a European tie before a ball is kicked.
Jagiellonia Bialystok have confirmed that United States midfielder AZ Jackson has refused to return to Poland for pre-season after spending the second half of last season on loan at Vancouver Whitecaps. The 24-year-old will not feature against Rangers in Europa League qualifying, removing one creative threat from the Polish side’s ranks and subtly shifting the dynamics of that tie.
From Glasgow to the Highlands, from London to Brazil, the market is moving quickly. Contracts, medicals, and negotiations will decide whether this summer becomes a quiet evolution or a full-scale reset for Scotland’s biggest clubs.
