Celtic have been told they have landed a bargain to the tune of up to a £9million discount with their signing of Kasper Hogh, The striker will be announced as the club's second summer signing in the next day or two, and there is plenty of excitement surrounding his arrival.
Hogh has already scored seven times in the still young Norwegian top-flight campaign, and he also has a history of scoring goals in the Champions League. He has that second part in common with fellow new Celtic signing Camilo Duran, who also has five Champions League goals during his career.
Hogh will arrive on a deal worth an initial £11million, although there are add-ons at play, and according to a former Hoop who watches plenty of Norwegian football back in his homeland, the Bhoys have landed a real bargain.
Celtic land bargain with Hogh deal
According to former Celtic and Norway international Vidar Riseth, who made 56 league appearances for the club between 1998 and 2000, the Bhoys have struck gold with their newest signing.
“Kasper has been the main man for Bodo/Glimt and has always been first choice," he told the Daily Record.
“He’s been playing alone up front, but can also play alongside a partner. He can play in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 system. He scores in almost every game, whether it’s the Norwegian league or in the Champions League. I think he could have gone for more. There have been so many clubs interested in him.
“I know there have also been teams from Italy, Germany and Norway, but everybody understands that in Norway he’s too expensive. He has so much interest because he’s performed at the highest level in the Champions League. These days, the transfer numbers are crazy. Players are expensive.
“So, if you look at £11million, I would say that he would have gone for more. But when Celtic came up, he wanted to play for them, I know that. Kasper didn’t want to wait and bring all the other clubs up to each other and to get the price up because he wants to go to Celtic. He was clear about that.
“I think the price could be more, definitely. I would have expected him to go for around £16m-£20million.”
That's a big saving for Celtic, and it makes a change this summer, given they are largely being asked to pay big money for targets, leaving them short of new signings just days from the start of the season.
In the case of Hogh, many fans seemed to believe that it was a deal Celtic paid big money for just to get a big signing over the line, but it looks as if they have actually done some smart business in spite of their desperation this summer.
Just how smart that business proves to be will, of course, come down to Hogh plays when he gets to Glasgow, but he should have every chance of hitting the ground running due to already being in mid-season shape.
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