Celtic FC to resume Haissem Hassan pursuit following Kasper Høgh acquisition
Reports indicate the Scottish Premiership champions will submit an improved offer for the Egyptian winger once the defender from Bodo/Glimt is secured, amid growing frustration among supporters over recruitment delays.
Celtic FC has signalled its intention to re-engage in negotiations for Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan, contingent upon the finalisation of defender Kasper Høgh’s transfer from Bodo/Glimt. According to reporting by journalist Christian Vaquero, the club plans to submit an improved financial offer to Real Oviedo only after the Høgh deal is completed. This strategic sequencing follows a period of significant squad attrition that has left manager Martin O’Neill with notable gaps in his roster.
The club’s recruitment strategy comes against a backdrop of increasing frustration among supporters, who cite a lack of movement and glaring deficiencies in squad depth. The departure of several key players since the conclusion of the season has exacerbated these issues. Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Marcelo Saracchi have all left the club, while Daizen Maeda completed a £10 million move to Ipswich Town after nearly five years at Celtic Park.
Structural weaknesses are particularly acute on the wings, where current options are viewed as insufficient to meet the demands of the upcoming campaign. Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, both previously signed by the club, are considered poor value, with reports suggesting approximately £10 million was spent on deals that have failed to provide adequate cover. The situation is further complicated by the unavailability of starting winger Jota and the age of James Forrest, who is deemed too old to handle the required minutes despite his experience.
Haissem Hassan, an Egyptian international and World Cup performer, had previously agreed to a four-year personal contract with Celtic. However, negotiations with Real Oviedo stalled, leaving the player’s status in limbo. Vaquero’s latest report suggests the club is prepared to return to the table with a more competitive offer once the defensive reinforcement of Høgh is secured, aiming to resolve the transfer saga definitively.
Concurrently, Celtic is reportedly monitoring Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri as an alternative option. This dual interest in Hassan and Cancellieri presents a potential conflict, as it is considered unlikely the club would pursue both players during the same recruitment window. A separate transfer saga involving SC Paderborn’s Mika Baur is also ongoing, adding to the complexity of the club’s summer business.
