Bayern Munich paid a record breaking loan fee to sign Nicolas Jackson (Credits: Imago Images)
Celtic have shattered their transfer record by completing the signing of Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh in a deal worth more than £11 million.
The 25-year-old Dane has penned a four-year contract with a 12-month option after completing his medical at Parkhead earlier this week.
Hogh arrives with a fearsome European pedigree, having scored against Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon last season.
Across Glasgow, Rangers are accelerating talks with Brighton over winger Amario Cozier-Duberry while pushing forward a £3 million move for Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya.
The South African centre-back could potentially arrive in time for Friday night’s Premiership opener, with the club working hard to finalise paperwork.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is also pursuing Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan, who impressed at the World Cup as part of Egypt’s squad during their dramatic 3-2 loss to finalists Argentina.
Real Oviedo sporting director David Fernandez made clear that the club controls the terms of any departure, insisting they are “prepared for anything” but that players will only leave on their terms.
Hassan has just 12 months remaining on his contract and is also attracting interest from Ligue 1 runners-up Lens among several other clubs.
Celtic are additionally in talks with Bundesliga 2 side Paderborn over Germany Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur as O’Neill looks to further strengthen his squad ahead of the Champions League play-off.
Former Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt could have demanded closer to £20 million for Hogh, according to Vidar Riseth, who described the deal as a significant bargain for the Scottish champions.
Hearts have moved quickly in the transfer window themselves, completing a £500,000 deal to bring in Forest Green Rovers captain Laurent Mendy.
Motherwell head coach Alfred Johansson acknowledged progress is being made on his recruitment drive, warning that patience will be required given the extended World Cup summer window.
Johansson said: “We are working really hard behind the scenes and we are quite close to doing a thing or two. We are going to have patience because it is a really long window, especially as it is a World Cup summer.”
Dundee United have been granted a GBE to sign Basaksehir midfielder Abdoulaye Yoro, with the 21-year-old Ivory Coast international currently in Turkey awaiting clearance to travel to Scotland.
Kilmarnock are closing in on a deal to bring in former Rangers youngster Johnly Yfeko from Exeter City, with manager Neil McCann looking to add left-sided defensive cover to his squad.
The 23-year-old can play as a centre-back or left-back and came through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City before joining Rangers in 2022.
Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken reflected honestly on his side’s 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying, stating: “Physically yes,” when asked if the qualifiers had come too soon for his team.
Vrancken added: “Sturm Graz were already six weeks into preparation for the season, us only three,” explaining the gap in fitness levels that proved decisive in both legs.
Scotland striker Kieron Bowie is closing in on a £9 million move to Sassuolo from Verona, with Hibs holding a sell-on clause from his original £5.5 million move to Italy in January.
Falkirk manager John McGlynn refused to close the door entirely on the Scotland national team job while insisting his full focus remains on his work with the Bairns this season.
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