Why Celtic must sign Champions League star after missing out on Iheanacho

Celtic have been turned down by Kelechi Iheanacho and he has officially found a new club after his contract at Parkhead expired at the start of the month.

The Scottish Premiership champions offered the Nigeria international a new contract to stay at the club heading into next season, but he has opted to go elsewhere.

Turkish side Bursaspor swooped in and convinced him to make a move to the Super Lig on a three-year deal, turning down a return to Glasgow in the process.

Martin O’Neill wanted to retain the experienced number nine’s services ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, and he will have to look elsewhere to provide support for Camilo Duran.

Celtic should view Kelechi Iheanacho’s rejection as an opportunity

Instead of viewing Iheanacho’s decision to go elsewhere as a big blow, Celtic should view this as an opportunity to go out and sign a better and more effective striker to bolster their squad.

The simple fact of the matter is that the 29-year-old marksman was not available anywhere near regularly enough for the Scottish giants last season, as he only played 24 times in all competitions.

He was effective in the games that he did play, scoring nine goals, including in the SFA Cup final against Dunfermline, but multiple hamstring injuries limited his involvement.

The former Manchester City and Leicester centre-forward was not available enough to considered a reliable option for the Hoops, as evidenced by the fact that he started four out of 38 Premiership matches.

Iheanacho’s fitness and injury issues suggest that he would not have been a guaranteed success at Parkhead next season, despite his quality when available, because they could not have been confident that he would have been available week-in-week-out.

Celtic eyeing star who offers more than Iheanacho

O’Neill could do far better, therefore, with a new striker signing, and that is evidenced by the latest player who is being targeted by the Premiership champions.

The Scottish Sun reports that Celtic are planning a new move to sign Bodo/Glimt centre-forward Kasper Hogh in the summer transfer window.

It states that the Hoops had been hoping to sign him for £7m in the January transfer window, before their progress in the Champions League ultimately scuppered a deal.

Now, the report claims that the Scottish giants have revived their interest in the Danish marksman and that it will take an offer in excess of £7m to secure his signature this time.

Hogh has scored five goals in his last six matches in the Champions League, scoring against Inter, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Sporting, and would provide the Hoops with a big threat on the European stage.

The Champions League goal machine has shown that he can provide quality in the final third against some of the best teams in Europe, which suggests that he would have few problems with adapting to the Premiership and becoming a star for Celtic.

His domestic form for Bodo/Glimt further backs up his qualities in front of goal and suggests that he would be a far superior option to Iheanacho, not least because he has played 57 competitive club games in the last 18 months.

Hogh is rarely unavailable through injury and could be relied on to start week-in-week-out for the Scottish giants, which immediately makes him a more valuable asset than the Nigeria international.

The fact that he has also scored seven goals and provided four assists in 12 Eliteserien matches in 2026 is merely the icing on the cake, whilst his return of 17 goals in 28 league matches in 2025 is the cherry.

Hogh is a prolific and proven goalscorer who would be a sensational signing for Celtic to bolster their attack, as he is more prolific and more reliable than Iheanacho, making him a far better signing this summer.

That is why the board must splash the cash and agree to pay in excess of £7m for the Denmark international, so that O’Neill can add a consistent goalscorer to his squad.