Celtic and Rangers Prepare for Major Attacking Reshuffles
The Glasgow giants are braced for a significant reshuffle in their forward lines, with Celtic closing in on Kasper Høgh and Daizen Maeda on the verge of a £10m move to Ipswich Town, while Rangers striker Danilo is back in Brazil to seal a loan switch to Botafogo.
This is not a quiet July in Scotland. It is a full-scale reset.
Celtic move for Høgh as Maeda heads for exit
Celtic’s pursuit of Kasper Høgh has moved into the decisive stages. The Scottish champions have held talks with Bodo/Glimt over the 25-year-old Dane, who is valued at around £7m, and reports in Norway and Scotland suggest a deal is edging closer.
The clearest sign came on Thursday night. Bodo/Glimt cruised to a 3-0 win over HamKam; Høgh never left the bench. For a fit centre-forward in his mid-20s, that kind of omission usually tells its own story. Celtic have tracked him since January. Now they look ready to cash in on that long-running interest.
As one striker edges towards Parkhead, another is packing his bags. Daizen Maeda arrived in London on Thursday to undergo a medical ahead of a £10m move to Ipswich Town. The Japan international, 28, is expected to have his departure from Celtic confirmed as early as Friday, ending a spell in Glasgow defined by relentless pressing, tireless running and a knack for big-game moments.
Losing Maeda strips Celtic of one of their most intense presences out of possession. Høgh, a more traditional No 9, would offer something very different: penalty-box presence, physicality, a focal point. The attack is being reshaped, not simply replenished.
Targets stack up as Celtic test the market
Celtic’s recruitment drive does not stop with Høgh. The club have already tested Paderborn’s resolve over Mika Baur with a £4m offer, but the newly promoted Bundesliga side are standing firm. They value the 22-year-old midfielder higher and are prepared to let him run down his contract and leave for free next summer rather than sell below their price.
That stance turns Baur into a classic transfer tug-of-war: buy now at a premium, or gamble on patience and a free transfer later.
Wide areas and the final third remain a clear focus. Celtic hold an interest in two Lazio players: 25-year-old striker Gustav Isaksen and 24-year-old winger Matteo Cancellieri. Both would add pace and directness, both fit the age profile the club favour, and both hint at a board willing to spend to maintain domestic dominance and improve European credibility.
Between the posts, the numbers are climbing too. Las Palmas want more than £4.3m plus a sell-on clause for 27-year-old goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, another player linked with Celtic. That kind of structure – higher fee now, future percentage later – is becoming standard for selling clubs dealing with Scotland’s elite.
There is also interest in Celtic’s own midfield. Reo Hatate has emerged on West Ham United’s radar, along with Rangers defender John Souttar and his brother Harry, the Leicester City and Australia centre-half. The Premier League club are clearly scanning British and Australian markets for defensive and midfield reinforcements, and any concrete move for Hatate would test Celtic’s resolve and their valuation of one of their most gifted technicians.
Danilo back in Brazil as Rangers adjust
Across the city, Rangers are making their own adjustments in attack. Danilo has arrived in Brazil and is due to undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a loan move to Botafogo. The 27-year-old’s time in Glasgow has been blighted by injury and inconsistency; a return to his homeland offers a reset and frees up space and wages as Rangers retool their forward options.
Rangers have also been tracking emerging defensive talent, but look set to miss out on one of their targets. AC Milan are close to an agreement with Troyes for 20-year-old centre-back Sankhoun Diawara, a player who had attracted interest from both Rangers and Basel. When Milan circle, most others step aside.
Young talent on the move – and fiercely protected
The transfer activity stretches well beyond Glasgow.
At Tottenham Hotspur, Mikey Moore has returned from his loan spell at Rangers with a spring in his step. 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”, stressing that his time in Scotland has made him a better player. For Rangers, that loan ends without a permanent deal, but with a reputation enhanced for giving minutes to promising talent.
In the National League, Forest Green Rovers are on the brink of a record windfall. Manager Robbie Savage has confirmed that the club will bank a fee that could rise close to seven figures if 29-year-old midfielder Laurent Mendy agrees personal terms with Heart of Midlothian. For Hearts, it is a bold move; for Forest Green, a crucial financial injection.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, are testing the waters for 21-year-old centre-back Jadel Katongo. Talks have been initiated over a move from Kayserispor, according to sources in Turkey, but the finances involved make a deal complicated. Wages, fee, structure – all of it has to align for the Dons to land the England Under-20 international.
Dundee United are also waiting on paperwork of their own. The Tannadice club are still seeking MLS approval to complete the loan signing of 21-year-old left-back Philippe Ndinga from Philadelphia Union. The deal is in the system; the green light has not yet appeared.
United have no intention of being only a stepping stone, though. Manager Jim Goodwin has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to keep Lorenzo Sassetti at the club. The teenager became Dundee United’s youngest ever player on Tuesday at just 15, instantly attracting attention from Serie A sides and English Premier League clubs. United know the pattern: a precocious debut, a swarm of scouts, and then the battle to convince a family that development at home is better than a glamorous badge elsewhere.
European sub-plot: Jackson refuses to return
On the continent, a story with a direct Scottish twist is unfolding. 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 for Jagiellonia against Rangers in Europa League qualifying. For the Polish champions, it is a headache. For Rangers, it removes a creative threat from the opposition’s midfield and slightly tilts the tactical picture ahead of a crucial tie.
From Glasgow to Poland, from London to Las Palmas, the market is moving quickly. Celtic are reshaping their attack, Rangers are trimming and targeting, and the rest of Scotland is scrambling to keep pace and keep hold of its brightest prospects.
The window is open, the money is on the table. Who blinks first?
