Celtic set to intensify interest in Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri | OneFootball

Celtic are said to be getting set to intensify their interest in Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri, in a bid to beat West Ham United and others to the Italian’s signature this summer transfer window…

Martin O’Neill is still scouring all over the place for any reinforcements that can come in and improve the overall quality of the squad, as he openly admitted he is urging the club’s powerbrokers to target affordable quality. That, he admitted, comes at a premium as the Board have found out with Kasper Høgh, who successfully completed his medical this afternoon ahead of a record-breaking transfer.

Time for Celtic to dip into cash reserves

That is exactly the type of deal we should be looking at doing though, as we have plenty of cash reserves just sitting there in the bank and a playing staff that has seen better days, in all honesty.

A statement signing like Høgh is just what the doctor ordered too, for a support that has had it’s fill of pathetic excuses from the money men at Parkhead for years now.

Hogh signing is magic but more signings needed urgently

Alongside Høgh, it is thought that O’Neill wants to bring in Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur from SC Paderborn in the German Bundesliga. Both deals appear to be stalling though at present, as the club cannot reach a satisfactory financial agreement with either player’s employer for their registration this summertime.

Mika Baur SC Paderborn,14, Football Bundesliga season 2025 2026 VfL Wolfsburg vs SC Paderborn at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg Germany 21 May 2026. Photo IMAGO / Christian Schroedter

Celtic probably need two new wingers

Whilst the Hassan deal in particular rumbles on, reports from Spain say that the Real Oviedo star will return to pre-season training this Wednesday, with nothing appearing imminent unfortunately. That has coincided with news now from ExWHUemployee that the Bhoys are set to step up their interest in Lazio star Matteo Cancellieri, most likely as a Hassan alternative – more’s the pity. We actually need to sign two wingers in this window of we are to be Champions League ready – for a change.

Celtic facing stiff competition for Cancellieri

The 24-year-old inverted winger is being closely tracked by a plethora of clubs, with Celtic and West Ham being just two of many.

Although it does now appear that the Hoops are intensifying their interest in the man who is described as being very athletic and direct. It still remains to be seen though if this move will come to anything and if it is an alternative Hassan target, or perhaps in addition to, with the latter being the most likely.

We live in hope!

Paul Gillespie

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