If a report by FotbollDirekt.se is believed to be true, Celtic are keeping close eyes on Swedish sensation Pontus Dahbo. The teenage prodigy from BK Häcken is rated highly back in his homeland and has been scouted extensively by a host of European hotshots.
The 18-year-old midfield ace progressed through the youth ranks of Sävedalens IF before joining Hacken’s academy in 2020. He was eventually drafted to their senior side and has featured 45 times in all competitions. With 6 goals and 2 assists, Dahbo has depicted his flexibility in various midfield roles [stats via Transfermarket], and the Bhoys must splash a fee of around £3.4m to secure his services in the summer window. The hefty valuation suggests how highly rated the youngster is at his current club.
Celtic have maintained their supremacy in Scottish football despite Ange Postecoglou’s egress for the Tottenham Hotspur job. Brendan Rodgers was brought back to succeed the Aussie boss and the Northern Irishman dominated the Old Firm contests en route to clinching the league and the Scottish Cup silverware. He has a stable first-team squad with Joe Hart being the only key exit in the aftermath of his retirement from professional football.
Why Celtic Should Snap Him Up
While the search is on for a new ‘number 1’, the Hoops have a stable midfield on paper. Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate started the majority of fixtures, and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo as a ‘super sub’ often made a difference in the middle of the park. Yet they might undergo a crisis in the coming days, per the transfer rumours.
The growing interest in O’Riley makes things uncertain for the Denmark international. Also, a reunion with Bernardo seems difficult given his salary expectations. Forgotten James McCarthy does not belong to Rodgers’ plans, also Tomoki Iwata has only been utilized as a sporadic option rather than a first-team regular since his arrival from Yokohama F. Marinos.
Meanwhile, the Celts have tied down some young prospects over the years as part of their project plan. Many such deals have done wonders, but the same did not work out last time with Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Odin Thiago Holm failing to leave an impression at Parkhead.
Celtic signed Gustaf Lagerbielke last summer from the IF Elfsborg. Although the Blue and Yellow centre-half could not convince Rodgers in limited appearances, the Bhoys must not stop scouting and raiding the Allsvenskan market for the right player with a high ceiling. Dahbo, a regular for his nation’s U18s, is hailed as one of the next-gen superstars and it remains to be seen whether the Hoops win this transfer race ahead of their fellow suitors.
