Celtic target Casper Tengstedt has completed his move to Portuguese giants Benfica from Rosenborg in a deal that could rise to £10.5 million, as reported by Alfredo Pedulla.
Only a couple of days ago, when quizzed about a potential January switch to Celtic, Tengstedt said that he expected to still be a Rosenborg player when the new Norwegian season kicks off in April.
Flash forward some 72 hours later, and that very same player was touching down in Lisbon, preparing to undergo a medical and sign a long-term deal with runaway Primeira Liga leaders Benfica; talks between Rosenborg and Benfica going from zero to 100 in the blinking of an eye.
Tengstedt spent just five months at the Lerkendal Stadion. After 15 goals and 10 assists in just 18 Eliteserien appearances, the Denmark U21 international replaces John Carew as the most expensive export in Rosenborg’s history.
Celtic target Casper Tengstedt leaves Rosenborg for Portuguese giants Benfica
“A fantastic return (on our investment). Absolutely tremendous in just five months,” Rosenborg coach Kjetil Rekdal tells TV2 of a player who joined from AC Horsens for around £1 million back in August.
“It’s good work on the part of the player, the club and everyone involved. It’s important to remember that (Tengstedt) didn’t get here alone. He had a team that supported him, helped him to grow and have the success he had.”
According to Football Scotland, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic had identified Tengstedt as a potential replacement for Giorgios Giakoumakis at Parkhead. The Greek targetman is set to leave this month after talks over a new contract broke down. Tengstedt even labelled Celtic ‘a fine club’; suggesting that the chance to follow in the foosteps of Scandinavian legend Henrik Larsson at Parkhead was an opportunity which appealed to him.
It’s unlikely that Celtic would have been able to compete with the numbers on offer at Benfica, however; Pedulla stating that As Aguias could pay up to £10.5 million for Tengstedt. They have stumped up an initial fee of £6 million.
‘Benfica is a great club’
“I’m happy!” Tengstedt tells the Benfica website. “I’m going to try to help the team so we can win the league. I hope to be part of the team and help with my goals.
“Benfica is a great club. I like the way they play. I’m a striker who can also play as a winger, who is always looking to score goals. I shoot well. I hope (the fans) see that on the field.”
Celtic also look to have missed out on Said Hamulic; the Dutch-born Bosnia international rejecting Parkhead in favour of a move to France with Toulouse. There is, at least, a growing confidence that Cho Gue-Sung will arrive to fill a Giakoumakis-shaped hole in Postecoglou’s attack.
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