Celtic are moving closer to Kasper Høgh, with Martin O'Neill saying the striker is expected to have a medical in the next 24 hours. The deal is not complete yet, and O'Neill was careful on that point, but reports now place the move at the final stages and value it at a club-record £11m, or slightly above that figure depending on the source.

O'Neill told BBC Sport: "Yes, apparently so. He will have one in the next 24 hours, I think." He also added: "Yes, I'm hoping that that will happen. I think there's a good chance of it. But, until someone's actually signed and sealed, there might be things still up in the air, but it's certainly progressing."

That is about as clear as a manager gets before a transfer is formally announced. Celtic look close to landing the centre-forward they want, but the caution from O'Neill matters here because no source has said the move is finished.

The medical stage and the fee

The headline figure around this deal is big by Celtic standards. Reports say the Scottish champions have agreed a club-record £11m deal for Høgh, while other coverage has put it at £11m-plus. The important part is the same in both versions: Celtic are prepared to spend heavily on a striker they believe can lead the line straight away.

That makes sense for a club that finished first in the Premiership and are recruiting from a position of strength rather than panic. This is not a case of bargain shopping late in the window. It looks like a deliberate move for a player with a body of work behind him.

O'Neill would not go beyond the medical update, and he did not offer much on other targets either. Asked about wider business, he said: "That, I genuinely can't tell you. I genuinely cannot tell you at this minute. I've been preparing for this game. I'll see where we are tomorrow and things. We've got a few other things in the pipeline that might come to fruition, which would be great for us."

There is a reason Høgh appears to be the deal drawing the biggest push. The price is large, but so is the return Celtic would expect if he carries over anything close to his output from Norway.

Why Høgh appeals to Celtic

At Bodo/Glimt, Høgh has produced 54 goals and 22 assists in 103 appearances. For a transfer at this level, that is the sort of sample size Celtic can lean on. They are not buying a striker off one hot spell or a small run of starts.

The assist number matters almost as much as the goals. A forward with 22 assists in the same stretch suggests more than penalty-box finishing. Celtic usually spend long periods attacking deep blocks domestically, so a striker who can combine, bring others into play and still finish chances is a better fit than a pure poacher.

There is also strong evidence that his scoring has translated against better opposition. Høgh has scored against Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon, and he hit a double against Manchester City last season. That does not guarantee anything in Glasgow, but it is a better sign than simply stacking goals in routine league matches.

One recent performance marker also stands out. He posted an 8.9 rating in one of his most recent Champions League outings. Used once, that number is useful context rather than decoration: he is arriving off the back of serious European-level form.

Celtic supporters have seen the club linked with wide players before, and Lazio's Gustav Isaksen is one of the names in the wider market conversation. But this story is really about the middle of the pitch and whether Celtic can add a striker with a sharper ceiling than most domestic rivals can access.

What Celtic would be buying

Høgh's profile explains why the fee has climbed to this point. He has volume, he has end product and he has done some of it on bigger nights. That is usually what pushes a deal out of the sensible range and into record territory.

There is still a difference between advanced and done, and Celtic have not announced anything yet. Still, when the manager is talking openly about a medical within 24 hours, the move has clearly moved beyond loose interest.

For Celtic, this is the key point. They are not just close to signing a striker, they are close to signing one with 54 goals and 22 assists in 103 games for Bodo/Glimt, and O'Neill expects the medical to happen within the next 24 hours.

FAQ

Will Kasper Hogh complete a move to Celtic soon?

The move looks close, but it has not been announced as complete. Martin O'Neill said Hogh is expected to have a medical in the next 24 hours and also stressed that nothing is signed and sealed yet. Reports point to a club-record £11m deal, so this is clearly at an advanced stage.

Why are Celtic willing to pay a club-record fee for Kasper Hogh?

Celtic appear to be paying for proven output rather than a short run of form. Hogh has 54 goals and 22 assists in 103 appearances for Bodo/Glimt, and he has also scored against Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon, plus a double against Manchester City last season.

What did Martin O'Neill say about Kasper Hogh's Celtic medical?

O'Neill said a medical is expected soon, telling BBC Sport: "Yes, apparently so. He will have one in the next 24 hours, I think." He also made clear the move was still progressing rather than finished, saying there could still be things up in the air until it is signed and sealed.

Is Kasper Hogh more than just a goalscorer for Celtic?

Yes, the numbers suggest that. Alongside his 54 goals for Bodo/Glimt, he has also produced 22 assists in 103 appearances. That points to a striker who can finish but also link attacks, which is useful for a side expected to dominate games domestically.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →