Director says selling £4m ace to Celtic is ‘not part of the plan’

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Brondby insist that selling striker Mathias Kvistgaarden to Celtic is ‘not part of the plan’ as the Scottish Premiership champions eye up a potential £4 million deal. 

Brendan Rodgers’ side have already done some shopping in Scandinavia this month, turning to Elfsborg’s Sweden international Gustaf Lagerbielke after Carl Starfelt left for Celta Vigo.  

Denmark U21 attacker Mathias Kvistgaard could potentially join Lagerbielke at Parkhead too, though Celtic have been warned that Brondby are not exactly planning for life without a player who scored 10 goals and set up four more in 2022/23 (Scottish Sun). 

Celtic eye Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden

“In the beginning, (selling Kvistgaarden) was not part of the plan,” director Carsten Jensen tells TV3 when asked about those Celtic links. 

Jensen, however, is not ruling out potential further deals before the window closes. 

“We are still in business, in relation both to incomings or outgoings,” the director adds. “We have to adjust the number (of players) in the squad still, even though we are about to be where we want to be.

“At least, (the deadline is) starting to get closer. We have our eyes and ears open in relation to a few more positions.”

Kvistgaarden, who can also play wide on the right as well as through the middle, would add further depth and quality to a Celtic frontline which drew a blank during the weekend’s insipid 1-0 Scottish League Cup defeat at Kilmarnock.

Rodgers, like Jensen, insisted that there could still be some business before the window closes, though the Celtic boss indicated that he may look to bring in a more experienced player than 21-year-old Kvistgaarden. Newcastle’s Ryan Fraser and Wolves’ Daniel Podence have been linked.

“We want good players, whatever age they are,” Rodgers tells the Daily Record. “We need quality, that’s for sure. Hopefully between now and the end of the window we can improve the squad. 

“Clearly the model of the club is to bring the players in at a younger age and develop them and improve them. But we are not against bringing in someone at 26 or 27 if they can improve the squad.”