Gustav Isaksen 'targeted' for Celtic transfer as £12m Lazio winger tipped for loan before buy switch

Premiership champions Celtic are reportedly keen to land Denmark international Gustav Isaksen from Lazio.

Multiple reports from the Eternal City overnight claim Brendan Rodgers' side are in for the 23-year-old wide man. A loan deal with an obligation to buy has been mooted for a player valued at £12m. Isaksen – an international colleague of departing Matt O'Riley – plays on the right wing but has struggled to convince Lazio boss Igor Tudor since joining from Midtjylland in a £10m-plus add ons deal last summer.

But now Isaksen could be on the move and it appears Celtic are primed to strike. Celtic are closing in on a season-long loan deal for Barcelona's Alex Valle and retain strong interest in £10m-rated Alex Engels and LAFC playmaker Mateusz Bogusz. Rodgers craves quality and he is confident he will get it before the window closes on Friday night.

Speaking after the 3-0 win over St Mirren, the Irishman said: “We can't be happy just to make our money and build our pot because the bottom line is on the pitch. That's the bottom line. The supporters, they pay the money. I look back to the Covid times here, the Celtic supporters sold the stadium out and they weren't allowed in it.

“So we have the duty to put the best team on the pitch. That's what we'll do and look to do. It's taken a bit longer than I would have liked. But if we can do it by Friday, strengthen the squad, we'll be in a really, really good place. The team is in a good place, mentally, tactically, how they're playing. But we want to strengthen and have that depth.

“It's taken a lot longer than I would have liked as the football manager. That's my brutally honest answer on it. But I will repeat this. If we get them in, then there's still a long season ahead.