Celtic now unlikely to sanction £10m move for Kvistgaarden

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The Celtic Star

·2 April 2025

Celtic now unlikely to sanction £10m move for Kvistgaarden

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers appears to have cooled the club’s interest in Mathias Kvistgaarden...

Broendby IF v Aarhus GF, Oddset Pokal cup football, Broendby, Denmark Brondby, Denmark. 15th, December 2024. Mathias Kvistgaarden 36 of Brondby IF seen during the Danish Oddset Pokalen cup match between Brondby IF and Aarhus GF at Brondby Stadion in Brondby. Denmark, Brondby Gonzales Photo/Rune Mathiesen

The Brondby striker has been linked with Celtic since Rodgers returned to the club almost two years ago. However, no deal has been forthcoming despite transfer talks being held in January. However there is believed to be a buy-out clause in the striker’s contract that would reduce the sum Brondby had previously demanded. That though might no longer interest Celtic quite so much due to other factors.

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Speaking after Celtic’s win over Hearts at the weekend, in which striker Daizen Maeda notched his 30th and 31st goals of the season, Rodgers suggested that the club may turn attentions towards securing a top quality winger to replace Kyogo rather than a striker given the impact Maeda has had through the middle.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I think he can be (the main striker). I think it’s one where if we were to move him back on to the side and take him out of the middle, with all due respect it’s probably easier for us to bring in a top winger than it would be a top striker. But he can clearly play the position and I am so happy that he can,” Brendan Rodgers told Celtic TV.

Celtic were expected to turn their attention to Kvistgaarden in an effort to replace Kyogo after he left for Rennes, a move that has become increasingly bizarre the more we hear about it.

With Jota returning as part of the deal, Celtic opted against paying a January premium for the player and put Maeda through the middle. The Danish starlet will have less than two years remaining on his deal in the summer but had been rated as a £10m signing.

It remains to be seen whether the club will prioritise a winger over a new striker. There is no doubt that the club will require a third striker with Johnny Kenny likely expected to leave on loan, again. It’s doubtful that the young Irishman is going to force his way into the Celtic side anytime soon.

Back to Daizen and the Celtic manager admitted that he could see the player’s qualities when he utilised Maeda through the middle through his first pre-season after returning to the club.

Daizen Maeda scores the opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“In my first pre-season back out in Japan, he scored a hat-trick. I could see his movement and his runs and his finishing. Of course, we had Kyogo here with Adam Idah. But I always like to have a press at the top end of the pitch who brings intensity to the game. For me, he brings that with the runs. And goals,” Rodgers noted.

It is an interesting development regarding Maeda appearing to be viewed as a first team striking option rather than being a winger. The Japanese Internationalist was always more of a wide striker rather than a tricky winger and his own preference is to play through the middle, although he never rocked the boat to be given the striker’s role at Celtic. It just is not his style.

It is clear that the manager rates Maeda’s ability through the middle, offering a different style and profile of striker to Adam Idah. The Irishman has cut a frustrated figure in front of goal this season but will be hoping to replicate his form from last season in the business end of the campaign as he helped Celtic towards a Scottish Cup and Premiership.

Daizen Maeda after scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

With Daizen leading the line it’s highly unlikely that Celtic will want two £10m plus strikers battling it out for a place on the bench. Indeed bringing Kyogo back for a substantially lower transfer fee than the £10m banked from Rennes might be a shrewd piece of business. Stranger things have happened, just as Jota or Kieran Tierney.

Daizen Maeda and Greg Taylor celebrate during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Celtic will be preparing for their summer business, especially with the looming task of the likely UEFA Champions League Playoff, and it is expected that they will look to add another left back along with Kieran Tierney, a striker and a winger. Greg Taylor is expected to leave and there has been rumours of interest in Cameron Carter-Vickers and Nicolas Kuhn.

Broendby IF v Aarhus GF, Oddset Pokal cup football, Broendby, Denmark Brondby, Denmark. 15th, December 2024. Mathias Kvistgaarden 36 of Broendby IF seen in celebration during the Danish Oddset Pokalen cup match between Broendby IF and Aarhus GF at Brondby Stadion in Brondby. Denmark, Brondby Gonzales Photo/Rune Mathiesen

Mathias Kvistgaarden would have been an exciting addition to the Celtic squad but if the club can get Daizen Maeda on a new deal and move on from bringing the Danish goalscorer to the club, then few Celtic supporters would be complaining.

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Celtic now unlikely to sanction £10m move for Kvistgaarden | OneFootball

Celtic now unlikely to sanction £10m move for Kvistgaarden

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers appears to have cooled the club’s interest in Mathias Kvistgaarden...

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