Celtic work on signing striker duo – ‘I fully expect it to get done’
Celtic will look to provide Brendan Rodgers with at least two new strikers this summer amid interest in Giuseppe Ambrosino, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about Rodgers’ attempts to strengthen his frontline.
Ambrosino is one of several strikers on Celtic’s transfer longlist this summer, but Football Insider revealed on 11 July that Rodgers is only likely to sanction a loan move for the unproven Napoli youngster.
Adam Idah is the only out-and-out striker in Rodgers’ squad after the January exit of Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes, and Daizen Maeda was tasked with filling in as a number nine for the second half of last season.
However, sources have told Football Insider that even if Celtic do sign Ambrosino this summer, Rodgers still wants to bring in a “big-name striker” with a strong track record to make up for Furuhashi‘s absence.
Maeda’s switch to the middle saw the Japan forward score 33 goals in all competitions last season, but interest from Tottenham and Brentford has left Rodgers keen to bolster his options even further in attack.
Ambrosino signing not enough for Celtic
Celtic’s interest in Ambrosino comes against the backdrop of Nicholas Kuhn completing his move Como and earning them a £14million profit, which Rodgers will plan to spend on signing a new number nine.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke stated that while Celtic can bring Ambrosino’s development on leaps and bounds next term, Rodgers won’t see the 21-year-old as a first-choice striker at Parkhead.
“It would be a gamble, bringing such a young player to a new league if Celtic were to pursue his signature”, he told Football Insider.
“Ambrosino is a young player, who’s obviously got big potential as well.
“He’s a player that Celtic could develop and give minutes to, but I think Brendan Rodgers will also be looking to bring in a big-name striker signing as well.
“I fully expect, from what my sources are telling me for Celtic to sign two strikers, a big name and a younger one they can develop.”
Rodgers in race against time to prevent Celtic exodus
Celtic‘s front three booked them a place in the Champions League knockout stages in the first half of last season, but Kyogo and Kuhn’s exits leave Maeda as the last man standing in Rodgers’ first-choice attack.
An immediate return to Celtic Park for Kyogo this summer was taken off the table by Championship big spenders Birmingham City, and the Northern Irishman’s frustrations are understandable at present.
Ambrosino would represent a solid addition to Celtic’s attack with Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren, but it remains to be seen if Rodgers’ request for a superstar striker will be met by a boardroom he’s increasingly at odds with.