Celtic’s reported interest in striker Kasper Høgh of Bodø/Glimt has drawn sharp criticism, with sources close to the club suggesting the transfer will not happen.
The Norwegian club’s asking price has risen dramatically since Celtic first identified Høgh as a target, making any deal financially unworkable for the Scottish champions.
Similarly, Jakob Breum has resurfaced as a name linked to Celtic, despite the club previously declining to pursue him during Brendan Rodgers’ tenure as manager.
Critics argue that leaking transfer targets to journalists without a permanent manager in place creates a false impression of progress at Celtic Park this window.
The broader concern is that Celtic may repeat a pattern seen twice in recent summers, assembling a squad without properly accounting for the incoming manager’s tactical needs.
Ange Postecoglou’s successful rebuild at Celtic worked precisely because he arrived with a clear vision, understood his budget, and defined the type of player required for each position.
His approach generated funds by moving on players who did not fit the system, allowing targeted reinvestment aligned with a specific style of play and structure.
The argument being made is straightforward: signing attacking fullbacks for a manager who prefers a different system, or traditional wingers for one who needs inside forwards, wastes money and time.
Sources suggest that if a managerial appointment has already been made internally, an announcement would at least provide a framework within which transfer activity would begin to make sense.
The name Martin O’Neill has been raised in connection with the vacant role, though Celtic have made no official statement confirming or denying any appointment process.
Transfer decisions driven by back-office staff rather than an installed manager risk repeating the same structural errors that have undermined Celtic squads in previous seasons.
The scouting department’s role, as described by those familiar with the process, is to supply a manager with players matching a defined system, not to operate independently of one.
Celtic’s current approach, circulating names of transfer targets through media channels before confirming a head coach, strikes critics as disorganized and counterproductive to building a competitive squad.
With the summer window approaching, pressure is mounting on the Celtic board to appoint a manager before transfer business moves any further along, even informally.
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