Mathias Kvistgaarden has been urged to think twice about making a potential move to Scottish Premiership champions Celtic during the January transfer window.
As far as a former Manchester United and England defender is concerned, the success enjoyed by Copenhagen on Europe’s biggest stage – at least, compared to Celtic’s latest group-stage exit – should have the Brondby frontman reconsidering his stance on a potential £7.5 million switch to Parkhead.
Copenhagen secured a last-16 clash with Manchester City after knocking United and Galatasaray out of the Champions League. Celtic, in contrast, finished rock bottom of their group, with Paul Parker wondering if Mathias Kvistgaarden would actually be taking a step backwards if he was to leave Denmark for Scotland.
Mathias Kvistgaarden still on Celtic’s radar
“I am sure that every top club in Denmark would be disappointed if their best players left the club just to go to Celtic and play in the Scottish league,” Parker, a two-time Premier League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson, argues to Tipsbladet.
“The Danish league is more competitive than the Scottish one. I remember some pretty impressive results in Europe from some Danish teams. And with the way FC Copenhagen have played in this Champions League campaign, despite being third in the league, it tells me that the league is pretty strong. (Certainly) when you take their budget versus the other clubs into consideration.
“In addition, the Scottish league used to be a good springboard to the Premier League. But, right now, I would honestly not prefer playing in the Scottish league over the Danish one.”
Celtic, according to the Scottish Sun, offered around £4 million for Kvistgaarden over the summer. The Hoops may be forced to stump up twice as much should they renew their interest, with Matt O’Riley’s fellow Dane expected to cost a far larger fee than, say, Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski or Bologna benchwarmer Sydney van Hooijdonk.
Celtic chance ‘insanely exciting’ for Brondby striker
Kvistgaarden is, however, more than just a goalscorer. A creator of chances as well as a taker of them, he has seven assists to go with his seven assists already this term.
“This is the first time for me that this (rumoured interest from a big club) has happened. Of course, it is something that’s on your mind,” Kvistgaarden told Discovery Plus after the close of the summer window.
“It is of course great and a huge honour. There is no doubt that it is insanely exciting and a huge club. But I left things up to people other than myself. I concentrated as much as possible on training every day, and being on time and doing my things.”
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