Celtic set to launch formal bid to sign their best striker since Kyogo

Celtic rolled Hearts up on the final day, watched the referee count to three and escaped with the Scottish Premiership title in a way only Eddie Guerrero would be proud of.

Now that they’ve retained their crown in the most dramatic way possible, however, it’s all about keeping hold of it once again.

The Celtic reign, as far as Martin O’Neill is concerned, is far from over and the first order of business for the Bhoys is to welcome a clinical goalscorer this summer.

Celtic expected to submit offer for 22-goal star

Aside from their very own managerial merry-go-round, Celtic’s biggest problem last season came in their frontline. The departure of Kyogo Furuhashi six months earlier forced the Bhoys to shift Daizen Maeda out of position at the start of the campaign and in one move, they turned a 33-goal man into a struggling star.

It took the Japan international until the end of the season to find his best form at the perfect time, denying Hearts the chance to end their wait for the crown.

Even that moment shouldn’t be enough to erase the rest of the season, though. Celtic simply cannot rely on Maeda as an out-and-out goalscorer. He either needs a partner or the chance to find his feet again out wide.

Attacking signings certainly look to be taking priority in Glasgow, too. The Hoops have already set their sights on Tairyk Arconte, who scored 14 goals in France last season, and are well in the race to sign another impressive forward.

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are set to launch a formal offer to sign Elias Filet from FC Aarau this summer. They have already held a video call this week with the player’s representatives to discuss a deal.

The Scottish giants are favourites to land his signature and O’Neill is keen to get the deal over the line, with personal terms expected to also be discussed.

Swiss second tier club Aarau are reportedly braced for offers worth around €600,000 (£520k), which would, of course, be well within Celtic’s range.

Elias Filet could be Celtic’s best striker since Kyogo

The biggest question surrounding Filet will be how he potentially adjusts to life in the Scottish Premiership. To go from the second tier in Switzerland to a side competing on all fronts is a big step for just about anyone. And after a tough season in recruitment, the Bhoys cannot afford to get things wrong.

Alas, it wouldn’t be the first time that Celtic have shopped in an unknown market. It’s worth noting that they once welcomed Kyogo from Vissel Kobe in Japan and although Andres Iniesta ensured the club was more well known than those in Switzerland, the forward still had a jump in level and style awaiting him.

In the end, of course, it was a gamble worth taking. Kyogo scored 85 goals in 165 games for Celtic, before leaving for Stade Rennais in 2025.

It’s easy to see why Celtic are willing to bet on the unknown yet again to boost their frontline. In Kyogo’s final season at Vissel Kobe, he scored 16 goals in 22 games. Filet’s numbers almost mirror that record, with 22 goals and six assists in 40 games for Aarau in the last campaign.

He reached levels that the Bhoys last saw from their former Japanese striker and the level they have been on the hunt for ever since his departure. At a bargain price, Filet is worth the pursuit.

In an ideal world, his arrival would spark O’Neill’s frontline into life, reignite Maeda’s best form and end any hope for Hearts or Rangers in the race to take the Scottish throne.

It was a campaign full of chaos for Celtic last time out, but they have the chance to calm the storm as champions this summer.