Attention turns to Matteo Cancellieri as Kasper Hogh passes medical

Cancellieri would be a terrific signing, but so would Hassan, two of them even better. But it’s realistically one or the other…

Celtic have been credited with an interest in Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri, and after some research into the one-time capped Italian international, it’s evident that he’s a player of genuine quality.

The 24 year old right sided attacker is said to be a player that Martin O’Neill has a serious interest in, with it even being reported a Celtic bid for the player is imminent.

Cancellieri, who scored four goals, and created two assists for Lazio last campaign, originally has a £12 million price credited to him, but the Rome based club are willing to lower that price to around £8 million, so a deal is well within Celtic’s reach.

We also continued to be linked with Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan, with serval outlets claiming that a deal is imminent for the Real Oviedo man. That is NOT the case although Celtic’s interest remains strong.

Hassan, who was a stand out at the recent World Cup, will command a similar fee as the Italian, so it’s very unlikely that the club will fork out just under a combined twenty million for two guys who fill the same position.

Although both players can occupy either flank, and play through the middle, so it would be a well worth investment to have two players of great quality in the attacking third. Especially with a tough demanding campaign both domestically, and European awaiting us.

Celtic outgoings 

With the sales of Daizen Maeda, Luis Palma, Maik Nawrocki and Hayato Inamura, bringing in £17.5 million, which to be fair was spent on Camilo Duran, and the incoming Kasper Hogh, we are just about in the black when it comes to net spending.

Arne Engels, Reo Hatate, and most likely Johnny Kenny are also likely to leave in the coming weeks, so that will be around a massive £30 million in incomings. So that’s your outlay right there for the two quality additions.

Unfortunately though, we all know that’s not the way it works at Celtic Football Club, and realistically it’s going to be one or the other.

James Forrest is currently the best winger at the club but at his age he will very much be an impact player this season with Yang the likely starter on the right wing.

On the left we currently have Sebastian Tounekti as the first pick with Michel-Ange Balikwisha as back-up so we clearly are in need of additional in the wide areas, especially on the left-wing.

Meanwhile Kasper Hogh has passed his medical today in London and is now Glasgow bound where he will be officially unveiled tomorrow and hopefully will go straight into the team of the Flag Day opener against Dundee a week tonight.

Ideally we will have one or two further signings lining up for that game.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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