Celtic are continuing talks to bring Mateusz Bogusz to Scotland from Los Angeles FC with former star Jota also a loan target as Brendan Rodgers’ side prepare to lose Matt O’Riley to Brighton and Hove Albion.
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Despite being set to bank around £30 million via the sale of their 2023/24 Player of the Year, manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Celtic supporters that finding a player capable of replicating Matt O’Riley’s remarkable output will be far easier said than done.
The Brighton-bound playmaker – who could complete his move to England on Monday – scored 19 goals and set up 18 more from his attacking midfield role last term.
“I don’t think we can replace like-for-like,” Rodgers told BBC Scotland before last week’s Daizen Maeda-inspired 3-1 League Cup win over Hibernian.
“If he did leave, to get someone like that straight away would be very difficult.”
Rodgers also confirmed that Celtic would look to invest that £30 million windfall in a number of players rather than chuck a huge bid at one marquee target.
Celtic eye replacements as Brighton agree Matt O’Riley deal
Mateusz Bogusz could set The Hoops back around £8 million, per the Daily Record, while leaving plenty of money aside for further additions.
HITC have been told that Celtic are continuing talks over a potential deal for the Polish 23-year-old. The
Bogusz plays in America for Los Angeles FC and has been a huge hit in the MLS. Formerly of Leeds United, he has blossomed into one of the most productive players in the league with 17 goals and six assists across all competitions.
Interestingly, Bogusz is a left-footed attacking midfielder who likes to drift in from the right-hand side. Should he return across the Atlantic, June’s MLS Player of the Month is likely to slot into the role vacated by O’Riley on Rodgers’ team-sheet.
Bogusz was very highly rated at Leeds during the legendary Marcelo Bielsa’s stint at the helm. He puts his failure to break through down to injury, however, with Bogusz now putting that frustration behind him in Los Angeles.
HITC can also confirm that Celtic are interested in bringing fans’ favourite Filipe Jota back to the green side of Glasgow.
The twinkle-toed winger was a huge success during two years in Scotland from 2021 to 2023. He became Celtic’s record sale when moving to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad – a record O’Riley is now set to smash – but could head back to Europe after struggling to make his mark in the Middle East.
Brendan Rodgers’ side want Jota back from Al-Ittihad
HITC understands Celtic have enquired about a loan deal. Al-Ittihad would prefer to sell, however, with Ligue 1 outfit Rennes also making their interest known.
“I think always the challenge for us is to improve,” Rodgers told Sky Sports on Friday, confident that further arrivals will be on the way before next week’s deadline. “And that improvement will come with bringing in a certain level of quality that will help us in European football.
“We’re in a really good place but we want to improve as a team and a club. That will be the objective over the course of the next week.
“We haven’t spent a great deal of money in terms of where we’re at and where we expect to be at as a club, so I would look at us over the coming week to be able to do some business. And it shouldn’t be reliant on players going out.
“If our idea is to improve, we’ll hopefully be active in the market over the next week.”
Arne Engels of Augsburg has also been linked with Celtic.
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