Celtic dream XI next season as Mathias Kvistgaarden headlines 3 gold dust signings Brendan Rodgers craves
Brendan Rodgers didn't get the signings he wanted in January but all is not lost for the Celtic manager.
That's because the cash-rich Hoops could well push the boat out to land his key targets NEXT season. Rodgers was left frustrated in his attempts to find a ready-made replacement for Kyogo in the wake of the Japanese sensation's £10million exit to Rennes. Ex-Leicester City frontman Kelechi Iheanacho was wanted on loan but Middlesbrough stole a march by thrashing out an agreement with Sevilla - picking up a huge slice of his salary.
Slovan Bratislava’s David Strelec was also in the frame but the £8million fee was deemed too steep. English Premier League veteran Danny Ings was linked too, but a loan move failed to get off the ground - leaving Adam Idah as Celtic's only recognised striker for the remainder of the campaign.
And while the £9m Irish powerhouse will take on the goalscoring burden, Rodgers has clearly set his sights on adding more firepower - with Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden top of his wishlist. The Denmark prodigy has been a long-term target for the Hoops, and while talks took place in January, the Parkhead club baulked at the whopping £13m asking price.
However, after smashing their transfer record twice during the summer, it's likely Celts will return to the negotiating table for the 22-year-old goal machine. If a deal can finally be concluded, Kvistgaarden won't be the only marquee signing, with Kieran Tierney already teed up on a pre-contract agreement.
Six years after selling their academy graduate to Arsenal for a club record £25m, Celts have remarkably struck a deal to bring the defender back for nothing. The Scottish champions did attempt to speed up KT's move, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta refused to sanction a winter exit. The fans' favourite, though, will be back in his beloved green and white hoops next season and he could be the final piece of the jigsaw forming formidable backline.
With experienced Kasper Schmeichel between the sticks, American Bhoys Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty will stand tall at the heart of the defence. Alistair Johnston - nominated for FIFA's prestigious Best XI - is one of the top right-backs going around. And with Tierney on the opposite side, Rodgers has the makings of a watertight rearguard that he can rely on to perform at the highest stage.
It gets interesting in the middle of the park. Captain Callum McGregor, 31, isn't getting any younger but remains the heartbeat of Rodgers' team, producing consistently high-level performances week in and week out. After retiring from international duties, the classy playmaker still has plenty of years left in the tank.
Record signing Arne Engels has taken time to find his feet since his £11m move from Augsburg but the 21-year-old has shown glimpses of real quality and a year under his belt in Scottish football should see him elevate his game to new heights in 2025/26. Rodgers has an embarrassment of riches to choose from in midfield, with Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan all at his disposal.
But after four seasons in Glasgow, Japanese maestro Hatate may be tempted to follow Kyogo's path by fulfilling his dream of playing in one of Europe's top five leagues - earning Celtic another handsome windfall. And it appears Rodgers already has a succession plan after setting his sights on Motherwell talent Lennon Miller. The Treble-chasers reportedly had an offer rejected for the 18-year-old - who has been watched by every top Premier League club - in January and could reignite their interest at the end of the season.
Up top, Daizen Maeda is savouring the best season of his career and is a constant menace to every defence in Scotland and Europe. However, the Duracell Bunny could face a tough task forcing his way into a potentially frightening front three, with Nicolas Kuhn on the right and Jota on the left. Idah has the number 9 jersey for now but if Rodgers gets his way, lethal Kvistgaarden could be the man to spearhead his star-studded attack.
Potential Celtic XI: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Miller; Kuhn, Kvistgaarden, Jota.
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Scales, Bernardo, McCowan, Yang, Forrest, Maeda, Idah.