The Parkhead side are close to signing the Swedish forward.
Celtic’s globe-trotting transfer strategy necessitates a thorough search for transfer jewels.
Discovering signing jewels leads to far-flung scouting excursions, with many signings made in Asia, Australia, and some of European football’s less fashionable outposts.
Celtic’s high-and-low approach might carry them to Timbuktu if they felt it was a good value.
However, the Danish Superliga had been off the table for over nine years…until now.
Last season’s double winners are finalising a £1.7 million agreement to sign Nordsjaelland winger Benjamin Nygren.
He will also be the first Danish Superliga signing since Erik Sviatchenko joined from FC Midtjylland in January 2016.
Celtic have signed a Dane since Sviatchenko, in the form of treasures Matt O’Riley and Kasper Schemichel, as well as the lesser-known misfit loanee Oliver Abildgaard, who was a rare error during the Ange Postecoglou period.
However, Nygren is the first direct signing from the Danish Superliga since Sviatchenko nine years ago, when he spent two and a half years at the club before returning to FC Midtjylland.
Prior to that, Morten Rasmussen was signed from Brondby by Tony Mowbray six years ago, but his time in Glasgow was unimpressive, much like the manager’s.
In reality, at £1.5 million, the striker cost £500,000 per goal before returning to Denmark and joining Sviatchenko at FC Midtjylland, where they were teammates.
Given Sviatchenko’s lack of success at Parkhead, Celtic may have been hesitant of entering the Danish league.
But they’ve definitely kept an eye on it, with Mathias Kvistgaarden drawing admiring glances from Celtic and others, but it’s an alternative option with positional versatility who will play at Parkhead.
And Nygren appears to be the real deal, according to data and professional opinion, and might be a wise addition to Brendan Rodgers’ roster.
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