Rodgers plans Celtic move for Conn 2.0

Celtic Quickly get back to work Scottish Premier League After Wednesday's 2-0 win over Dundee United, they will face Ross County away on Saturday.

The Hoops recorded a comfortable win at Parkhead during the week, thanks to goals from Daisen Maeda and Ryo Hatate, and are now 15 points clear at the top of the table.

Brendan Rodgers He will be pleased with his side's performance domestically this season, while the Scottish giants have lost just once in six Champions League matches.

However, the Northern Ireland coach is tasked with ensuring his side remain consistent and enjoy a similar second half of the season, to add more silverware to the cupboard.

Rodgers can use the January transfer window, which officially opened for business last week, to do just that, by adding more quality to his squad in the next few weeks.

In fact, the Celtic boss is said to be looking to bring in a new striker to bolster his options at the top of the pitch before the deadline at the start of next month.

Celtic are eyeing a new striker

According to an Italian outlet The Messenger, As reported by Sport WitnessCeltic are interested in a deal to sign Lazio winger Gustav Isaksen in January.

Rodgers plans to sign the 23-year-old striker after failing to move over the line to bring him to Parkhead in the summer transfer window.

Celtic He reportedly wanted to sign The Danish magician was in the summer in the final week before the deadline but were unable to conclude a deal for his services, ending that window without signing an established winger.

This latest report from Il Messaggero claims that the Scottish Premiership champions have now moved on again, while Italian side Bologna are also keen on the young striker, meaning they could face competition for his signature.

The outlet adds that Lazio would prefer to sell him at the end of the 2024/25 season but they are open to cashing in on him in January if an acceptable offer reaches the table before the end of the window.

It reveals that the Italian side have set a price of €15m (£12.5m) for the striker, although there is no mention of how much Celtic or Bologna would be willing to pay for the left-footed player.

While it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops will make a formal bid for the winger, it would be a bigger deal than the one that brought Arne Engels to Parkhead in the summer.

The fee paid by Celtic for Arne Engels

The Scottish giants have broken their club transfer record ahead of the 2023/24 season by paying… The reported fee is £11 million To sign the central midfielder from Augsburg to bolster Rodgers' options in the middle of the park after Matt O'Reilly completed his move to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Celtic had Three bids were rejected By the Bundesliga side before they ended up paying a club-record fee, and it could be similar with Isaksen – albeit across two windows – after they failed to seal a deal for him in the summer.

Engels produced Three goals and two assists He made 32 Bundesliga appearances for Augsburg last season, and has increased his production in the final third during his time in Glasgow so far.

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian talent has already scored six goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season, providing a potent threat at the top of the pitch from the central midfield position.

Celtic will now hope the 21-year-old continues to develop and can grow into more than the £11m they invested in him last year.

For a fee of £12.5m, Isaksen will arrive on a bigger deal than Ingles but also as another player with time to grow and develop, while he has shown plenty of quality in his career already which suggests he could be just that. Star for hoops.

Why should Celtic sign Gustav Isaksen?

Rodgers should swoop to sign the impressive youngster from Lazio as he could be Nicolas Kühn 2.0 as an incredibly talented left-footed right winger.

While it may seem strange that Celtic would sign a player similar to the German while they still have them at the club, Isaksen can play too On the left wing or through the middle as a central striker. He could be used in all three positions before taking over from the current star if he moves in the summer.

Coun has recorded 16 goals in 27 Matches in all competitions for Boise this season, as he cut the ball with his left foot from the right side, and the Lazio gem is a player with the same qualities.

The Danish sensation that once was Hailed as 'exceptional' By talent scout Jacek Kulig, it was produced Two goals and two assists In 13 league matches for Lazio this season, after returning three goals and one assist in 12 Italian league matches last season.

However, his form for FC Midtjylland in the 2022/23 season suggests that the potential is there for him to make a bigger impact at the top of the pitch in a team that dominates matches and consistently creates big chances.

As you can see in the table above, Isaksen has been a regular threat in front of goal in the Danish Superliga and has proven he can perform week after week in a dominant team.

These stats suggest that Celtic could unearth another striker of Cone's caliber by signing the £12.5m star, as he could also thrive in Rodgers' side and register goals and assists on a regular basis.

So, breaking the bank on a bigger deal than the one that brought Ingles to the club could be worth it for the Hoops, whether it happens now or in the summer.