Latest news with #Nygren
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Celtic transfer need 'heightened' as Nygren clue factored in
The former Parkhead defender had forecast that his old club would need to bring in one more wideman before the closure of the transfer window. But that was with the expectation that new recruit Benjamin Nygren would play on one side. However, after watching the Swede play in central midfield against Ajax, that has forced him into a rethink. Celtic have already sold Nicolas Kuhn in this window and Yang has been linked with an exit, with Brendan Rodgers playing down the chance of him leaving. They've been on the trail of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Jakob Breum but it remains to be seen if they can get deals done. Mulgrew would like to see both. Read more: "I said last week they need a winger," he told Go Radio. "After playing Ajax you seen Nygren playing as a kind of No8 midfielder. So you are thinking is that where he is going to play? So then you would think they need two wingers. "So I can understand why they wouldn't let Yang go. You can't let a winger go when you've not got any in the building or wingers ready to start and make an impact. "If Nygren is going to play as a No8 in the midfield area - I thought he came as a winger - then you need another two wingers. "So you need to keep a hold of Yang until you get replacements."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Benjamin Nygren Ajax clue accelerates Celtic transfer need as Adam Idah 'reality' made crystal clear
Brendan Rodgers is desperate to add to his champions and Charlie Mulgrew has backed call for wingers and another striker Benjamin Nygren's position against Ajax caught Charlie Mulgrew off guard as he admitted Celtic need TWO wingers if that is the role he will play under Brendan Rodgers. The Hoops boss has been vocal once more in his need to add reinforcements with fans desperate for key additions. The Premiership gets up and running this coming weekend while a huge Champions League two-legged play-off showdown is on the horizon as Celtic bid to dine at Europe's top table once again. Nygren has been one of the summer additions to date alongside Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamura and Callum Osmand. The Sweden attacker was used in a No8 role rather than wide during the Como Cup and with a lack of depth in the winger position, Mulgrew understands why Yang has to remain at the club - despite interest - and they must add more reinforcements. Speaking on Go Radio, Mulgrew explained: "I said last week they need a winger. "After playing Ajax you seen Nygren playing as a kind of No8 midfielder. So you are thinking is that where he is going to play? So then you would think they need two wingers. "So I can understand why they wouldn't let Yang go. You can't let a winger go when you've not got any in the building or wingers ready to start and make an impact. "If Nygren is going to play as a No8 in the midfield area - I thought he came as a winger - then you need another two wingers. "So you need to keep a hold of Yang until you get replacements." Adam Idah has received the backing of the former Celtic stopper to hit the ground running this year but has told him he must improve key aspects of his game. He admits the reality of him being the main man weekly is something that only Rodgers and his staff will know and reckons pressure will come from the top due to his high price tag. Shin Yamada has arrived and looked lively against Al Ahli. He netted the winning penalty and had a goal ruled out for offside but as a 25-year-old, he won't be a development player and will play some role. But Mulgrew reckons another striker has to come through the door between now and the window slamming shut. He said: "He's [Yamada] a bit old for a development player so you would imagine he would come in and play some sort of role. "I didn't realise he was that old [25]. So he needs to come in and make a sort of impact. Maybe off the bench at the moment. "I have said it before - £9million for Adam Idah. "He will be the main striker for me this year. Then get another to back him up and see where they go from there." A caller then put the question about how much time you give the Republic of Ireland international. He continued: "I think Idah's hold up play needs a lot of improvement. "The reality is, I don't know how long they give him and how well he does in pre-season. "But you'd think they will give him the start of the season to see what he does. There is a lot of things to his game he needs to improve on. "The reality is when a club spend £9million on a striker, there is pressure from the board and people to play him. "But that only does last so long. Like you say, who knows? Only Brendan Rodgers and the staff in there would know."
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Benjamin Nygren reveals the superstar comparison that has followed him as deciding Celtic transfer factor named
The Swede has made an instant impression on the Hoops' faithful with his pre-season performances Benjamin Nygren is surprisingly down to earth for a kid who was a Swedish teenage sensation who drew comparisons with Big Head himself. The Celtic ace has remained humble and he's convinced being thrust into the spotlight as a school boy will help him handle the heat of playing for the Hoops. Nygren has settled in quickly at Celts and already looks like a summer steal after being picked up from Nordsjaelland for just £1.7m. But it shouldn't come as a surprise. This is a guy who takes most things in his stride – even being talked about in the same breath as Zlatan Ibrahimovic – nicknamed Big Head in his homeland – when he was still eating lunch in the school canteen. Nygren was rated as one of the hottest properties in Europe when he burst onto the scene at Gothenburg, performing week in, week out in Sweden while he was still studying for his exams. A big money move to Genk Belgium at just 17-years-old might have been a wrong turn but the 24-year-old got back on track and ready for anything that comes next. He didn't lose the head with the Zlatan stuff and will keep his cool with the Hoops. Nygren said: 'Yeah, I noticed those stories (back then). But I always just tried to focus on my football. 'I made my debut when I was 16 but it wasn't until I was 17 that I started to do well. 'I was at high school at the time. It was a huge thing, of course, but I always had that view in front of me when I was a young kid. 'I think most kids who play football have the same dream. 'But when I was very young I had a clear view that I wanted to be a professional football player. 'When anyone asked me what I wanted to be I would always say a professional football player. 'They would then say, 'but what if you don't become a professional football player?' 'But I would say, 'I WILL become a professional.' 'I have always had that focus and clear view in front of me and have been working so hard from a young age to fulfil it. 'When I was younger, I always had big dreams. 'That was to play for the Swedish national team and play in the biggest competitions for both my country and my club. I have always had that dream. 'And that's the dream I am chasing every day. I am working as hard as I can to go as far as possible.' Nygren is gearing up for Flag Day at Celtic Park next weekend but won't be overawed. He's slotted in with Celts like he's been at the club for years and was impressive again in his run out against Ajax in Como on Thursday, even though the wh eels came off the Hoops by the end in the 5-1 friendly wake up call. He said: 'I have learned a lot through the years. The first time I played in front of a big audience was in Gothenburg when I was 16. 'That's a club that also has a lot of fans and very good fans. I had a really good relationship with them. 'So I have played in front of big crowds a lot of times, even though I am still pretty young. 'I have learned a lot during my years. For me, mindset is one of the biggest parts of being in sports in general. That's all sports including football. 'Maybe at 16 I had a good mental focus. But I have also learned a lot in the eight years since then and that includes the ups and the downs. It's been very healthy.' Nygren is ready for the next step – and he's convinced he's in safe hands at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers. He said: 'I have only got really, really good impressions of him. 'We had really good contact and he was a big part of why I came here. I had a really good talk with him before I signed. 'He didn't have to sell Celtic to me – I know about Celtic and how big it is. Of course, it was a big decision. 'I am still pretty young. I was 23 when I signed and I'm already 24! 'Probably I will have my best years ahead so I wanted to come to a big club that plays in the biggest competitions and Celtic have everything. I will play in front of 60,000 every home game and that's going to be amazing. 'I think it's a brilliant part of my development. 'I am looking forward so much to playing at Paradise in front of all of the fans.' Nygren didn't need to do much research on Celts. It helped being pals with the son of one of the club's all-time greats. The playmaker is part of the Sweden set up with Jordan Larsson – Henrik's lad – and he said: 'Last time I spoke with him was when we were with the national team a month ago. 'Of course, I know about his dad - the King of Kings, right?! 'I have seen many YouTube clips of him scoring a lot of goals for Celtic. 'I haven't met Henrik but Jordan is an amazing guy and he is also doing very well in his career. 'There was always some talk about Celtic and it's never too late, you know! 'But that's not my job – that's for the Sporting Director!'.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
New Celtic star opens up on being compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic aged just 16 – and how he recovered from early setback
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE was once tipped as a bigger prospect than a self-proclaimed football god. So Benjamin Nygren could easily have allowed those comparisons with Sweden superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic to keep him awake at night. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of Sweden's best ever players Credit: Getty 3 Benjamin Nygren was compared to Zlatan as a teenager Credit: Getty Instead, the school kid closed his eyes when his head hit the pillow, and started visualising dreams of his own making. The new Celtic midfielder was just 16, and in first team at Gothenburg, when his coach told the world he was more advanced than the legendary Ibra was at the same age. Yet there was never any danger of Nygren's ego getting out of control. He said: 'Yeah, I noticed those stories. But I always just tried to focus on my football. I made my debut at 16, but it wasn't until I was 17 that I started to do well. 'I just started to have focus. When I was younger, I always had big dreams. 'That was to play for the Swedish national team and play in the biggest competitions for both my country and club. 'I have always had that dream. And that's the thing I am chasing every day. 'I am working as hard as I can to go as far as possible. I was at high school at the time of my debut. 'It was a huge thing, of course, but I always had that view in front of me when I was a young kid. I think most kids who play football have the same dream. 'But when I was very young I had a clear view that I wanted to be a professional football player. Shock scenes as Celtic and Ajax fans clash during Como Cup friendly tournament in Italy 'When anyone asked me what I wanted to be I would always say a professional football player. 'They would then say, 'But what if you don't become a football player?'. 'But I would reply, 'I WILL become a football player'. 'I've always had that focus and clear view in front of me and have been working so hard from a young age to fulfil it — I knew I could do it.' Nygren, 24, knows having that same single-mindedness is vital if he's to be successful at Celts. In his opinion, it's impossible to make the grade at the highest level of sport without it. He added: 'I agree. For me, mindset is one of the biggest parts of being in sports in general. That's all sports, including football. 'Maybe at 16 I had a good mental focus. But I have also learned a lot in the eight years since then, and that includes the ups and the downs. 'It's been very healthy. Everyone who is in sports knows how important the mental part is. 'Of course, you need to put in the work also. But focus is really important.' Nygren hasn't had it all his own way. He joined Belgian side Genk for £4.5million after less than 20 top-team appearances for Gothenburg. But things didn't work out as well as he hoped. There was a loan spell in the Netherlands with Heerenveen, before Nordsjaelland snapped him up. It was there that he got back on track, with the Hoops pouncing when they realised he was out of contact at the end of this year and available at a cut-price fee of around £1.7m. Nygren said: 'I have learned a lot through the years. That first time I played in front of a big audience was in Gothenburg when I was 16. 'That's a club which also has a lot of fans and very good fans. I had a really good relationship with them. 'I have played in front of big crowds many times, even though I am still pretty young. I've learned a lot during my years.' Nygren speaks with real confidence. But it's not to be confused with arrogance. It's just like he's got an older head on his young shoulders. Coming to the champions of Scotland doesn't seem to have fazed him in any way. He added: 'It's been very good so far. I've only got very good first impressions of everything, the staff, the players and the whole organisation — as well as the fans. 'It's been easy to settle in, and I've just tried to focus on my thing and showing my qualities and how good I am. 'I always feel confident of bringing that to all of the training sessions as well as the games I play. 'That's something I want to show so it's been really good and I am happy to be here.' Nygren is also close friends with fellow Swedish international Jordan Larsson — the son of a certain Hoops legend Henrik. He said: 'The last time I spoke with Jordan was when we were away with the national team a month ago. 'Of course, I know about his dad — the King of Kings, right? 'I have seen many YouTube clips of him scoring a lot of goals for Celtic. 'I haven't met Henrik, but Jordan is an amazing guy and he is also doing very well in his football career.' Copenhagen striker Larsson has been linked with Celts down the years, mainly because of the family connection. Nygren added: 'Yeah, and it's never too late, you know! 'But that's not my job. That's for the sporting director.' 3 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Defiant Benjamin Nygren delivers Celtic prophecy for Champions League after Ajax reality check
The drubbing from the Dutch giants has sparked some creeping concerns for the Hoops Benjamin Nygren insists Celtic WILL be ready for their crucial Champions League showdown next month. Ajax wiped the floor with the Hoops in Thursday's night's 5-1 friendly reality check for Celts with boss Brendan Rodgers admitted his squad is still short of what is required for the coming season. The champions kick-off their title defence to St Mirren in eight days and are four weeks away from a crunch clash to get into the Champions League group stage – with the draw a week on Monday. Nygren has hit the ground running following his £1.7m move and impressed in recent runouts against Newcastle United and Sporting Lisbon. And he is adamant Celts won't be caught cold for the big one. Nygren said: 'I am confident we will be ready for those matches. 'We have very good players and I have already seen in the training games that we have a lot of quality. It wasn't good enough against Ajax but we will be ready.' Nygren is determined to blast his way to the big time and the Euro theme tune would be music to his ears. He said: 'The Champions League is a huge ambition for me and one of those dreams I have. 'I want to play at that level and hear that anthem. I really, really want to take that step.' Nygren has made a slick start with Celts in pre-season and he admitted he already feels right at home. He said: 'It's been very good. I've only got very good first impressions of everything, the staff, the players and the whole organisation - as well as the fans. 'It's been easy to settle in and I've just tried to focus on my thing and showing my qualities and how good I am. 'I always feel confident of bringing that to all of the training sessions as well as the games I play. 'That's something I want to show so it's been really good and I am happy to be here.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
