Celtic eyeing new Sweden sensation as Brendan Rodgers plots cut-price transfer
It's a long term interest - but other foreign clubs are circling
CELTIC are eyeing a move for Sweden star Benjamin Nygren.
SunSport understands the Nordsjaelland playmaker is on Brendan Rodgers' radar as he looks to boost his squad.
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Benjamin Nygren of Sweden celebrates one of his two goals for Sweden to date
Credit: EPA
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Sweden's Benjamin Nygren (C) and Algeria's Ramy Bensebaini (R) vie for the ball
Credit: AFP
But the Hoops face competition from the likes of Anderlecht and Copenhagen for the 23-year-old.
Nygren is out of contract in six months and could be available for a cut-price £2million fee.
He recently broke into the Sweden team after a standout season with Nordsjaelland in Denmark.
Nygren scored 16 goals and claimed four assists - earning a senior international chance.
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And he already has two goals in four caps, including a wonder strike against Hungary last week.
Danish sources claim Celtic have scouted Nygren in recent months as interest mounts.
The gifted attacker has excelled in the No10 position for his club - but can also play off the wing or up front.
Nygren has confirmed he won't extend his Nordsjaelland contract beyond the end of this year.
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And the Danes are now likely to cash in on him in this transfer window - instead of losing him for nothing in January.
Nygren came through the ranks at IFK Gothenburg before making a £3m move to Belgian side Genk in 2019 - aged just 17.
Thousands of Celtic fans march to Hampden for Scottish Cup final vs Aberdeen amid heavy police presence
A star of the Swedish youth teams, he was tipped as one of his country's next big things.
But Nygren struggled to make an impact at Genk and was loaned to Dutch club Heerenveen before joining Nordsjaelland in 2022.
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The attacker has blossomed in Denmark and is now poised to make the next step in his career.
Celtic boss Rodgers is looking to bolster several areas of his squad and Nygren would add creativity.
He fits the profile the Hoops normally look for and would give him a platform to develop.
Yet there is growing interest in the Swede after he broke into the national team due to his outstanding club form.
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Nygren scored against Hungary and then started Tuesday's 4-3 win over Algeria.
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Anderlecht are keen to take him back to Belgium, but Copenhagen also want to nab him from their Superliga rivals.
Celtic are ramping up their transfer activity - with Kieran Tierney confirmed on a five-year deal this week.
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The Hoops are also set to bring in Aberdeen keeper Ross Doohan, while Fulham kid Callum Osmand has agreed terms.
Rodgers will look to strengthen various areas and is also chasing more options in the wide areas - with Jota potentially out until 2026.
Antwerp's Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been a long-term target and Celtic now have to decide whether to follow that up with a formal bid.
Anderlecht's Nilson Angulo has been watched, as has Sarpsborg's Sondre Orjasaeter and Raul Moro of Real Valladolid
There will also be outgoings - with the likes of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Luis Palma expected to leave permanently.
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Greg Taylor seems destined to quit Celtic on a free, while talk of a Jeffrey Schlupp return has gone quiet.
Rodgers admits he also expects big-money bids for stars like Daizen Maeda in this window.
But the Celtic boss still hopes to tie down the Japanese ace on a new deal.
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Antwerp's Belgian forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha (C) celebrates after scoring a goal
Credit: AFP
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Brendan Rodgers is an admirer
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