CELTIC CONFIDENTIAL: Champions will have to fork out a record £14million if they want new strike target… PLUS the Parkhead defender who must be wishing he’d never gone out on loan

Brondby have slapped a £14million price on Celtic target Mathias Kvistgaarden.

The 22-year-old Dane is Brendan Rodgers’ top target to replace Kyogo Furuhashi after the fans’ favourite left for Rennes.

But Brondby are reluctant to sell their star man in the current window unless the deal shatters their previous transfer record.

As things stand, the two sides are a distance apart in their valuations.

Celtic’s existing record transfer is the £11m they paid for midfielder Arne Engels.   

The Parkhead club agreed to sell Kyogo to Rennes in return for the French Ligue 1 club selling them winger Jota for nine million euros (£7.6million).

Brondby star Mathias Kvistgaarden is drawing admiring glances from suitors across Europe

The Danish outfit are wanting a cool £14million for their 22-year-old star man Kvistgaarden

Meanwhile, the only question to be answered over Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic is when? 

Rodgers admitted on Tuesday night that Celtic have secured a pre-contract deal with the Arsenal star, kicking in this summer, but the manager hopes to wrap up a loan deal that would see him return before the current transfer window shuts. 

The Gunners are prepared to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko to Atletico Madrid and, if the Ukrainian leaves for big money, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would prefer to hold on to 27-year-old Tierney as cover. 

With left-back Alex Valle cutting short his loan deal at Parkhead from Barcelona to sign for Serie A side Como, Rodgers would prefer to have a reunion with Tierney as quickly as possible. 

If he doesn’t get his man now, Rodgers will have Greg Taylor as his only remaining left-back heading into the Champions League play-offs, with central defender Liam Scales as back-up. 

Welsh must be wondering what he’s let himself in for 

For the sake of his career, Stephen Welsh had no choice but to go out on loan for the second half of this season.

The former Scotland Under-21 international had started just two games before Christmas – a 5-2 win over Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup last September and a goalless draw at Tannadice in December.

While Celtic were keen to keep the 25-year-old on board to bolster their quota of homegrown players for their European squad, a temporary switch to Belgian side Mechelen was in his best interests.

Stephen Welsh left Celtic on loan to get game time with Belgian Pro League side Mechelen

Celtic defender Welsh, above right, has been subbed off at half-time in two of his games

It’s fair to say, though, that the Scot would have wanted a gentler introduction to life on the continent.

His first game ended in a one-goal defeat away to Cercle Brugge.

Next came a 2-1 home loss to Genk, with Welsh subbed at half-time.

He retained his place for the weekend trip to face Anderlecht. This one ended in a 4-1 thumping, with the Celtic loanee again withdrawn at the break with his side two goals down.

Now just four points above the relegation zone, Mechelen are struggling and badly need a result when they face OH Leuven on Friday. Welsh must already be wondering what he signed up for.

Kyogo’s still breaking records without kicking a ball 

Kyogo Furuhashi’s move to France has set a new benchmark.

The Japanese international’s £10m switch makes him the most expensive player over the age of 26 to transfer to one of Europe’s top five leagues with no previous experience at that level.

While supporters were denied a chance to say a proper farewell to their former idol after his final appearance against Young Boys, Furuhashi released an emotional message to fans via through the club.

Kyogo Furuhashi is unveiled following his £10m move from Celtic to French outfit Rennes

The Japanese star’s last game for Celtic was in Champions League win over Young Boys

Furuhashi shows off the badge of his new club after his £10million switch to the Ligue 1 club

‘Over the past three-and-a-half years, I have been truly grateful for your wonderful support and cheering,’ he said. ‘From the moment I joined until my final day, I’ve been happy every step of the way.

‘Being able to enjoy so many wonderful moments and achievements with all of you made me feel like the happiest player in the world countless times. I believe these invaluable experiences were only possible because I came to Celtic.

‘Even as the time goes on, I am deeply moved and encouraged by the many warm messages and kind words I continue to receive, and I cannot thank you enough. I move forward but I will keep all of you in my heart and continue on my journey.

‘Lastly, I am very sorry that I couldn’t say goodbye to you all, but I will give my best in my new chapter. I am confident that my wonderful Celtic team-mates, along with the manager and his backroom team will continue to create new and exciting moments for the rest of the season.’

Siegrist’s search for game time isn’t going to plan 

Ben Siegrist’s potential move to Serie A club Genoa has raised an eyebrow or two among Celtic supporters who barely saw him play during his two years at Parkhead.

The Swiss goalkeeper left Celtic six months ago to join Rapid Bucharest, but the manager who signed him, Neil Lennon, has since been sacked and Siegrist has fallen out of favour.

The 32-year-old former Dundee United player is reported to be frustrated with his lack of game time at Rapid, but a move to Genoa could consign him to another spell on the bench, as back-up to Nicola Leali.

That’s how it is for keepers like Siegrist: good enough to be at a big club, but not quite good enough to establish themselves as its No 1. The all-or-nothing nature of their position means they are afforded minutes only when the first choice is injured – or taking a rest.

Goalkeeper Ben Siegrist’s time at Celtic proved to be a frustrating spell in the shadows

Siegrist was an impressive regular with Dundee United, but he made just two first-team appearances for Celtic, in League Cup ties against Ross County and Motherwell. He never played a competitive match for them at Celtic Park.

He was always behind Joe Hart in the pecking order and, more tellingly, the club’s other back-up goalkeeper, Scott Bain, who was handed a new three-year deal in 2023.

Bain, 33, a hard-working player who has done better than even he expected in his career, is another who has spent a lot of time in the shadows. When his current deal expires, he will have been at Celtic for seven years, the last four of which have been on the fringes. This season, he has hardly even been on the bench.

Last summer, Kasper Schmeichel replaced Hart and Celtic signed Viljami Sinisalo from Aston Villa as his No 2. The latter has yet to play, but he cost £1m and, at 23, has plenty time to prove himself.

Bain and Siegrist, on the other hand, are among those keepers, like Jon McLaughlin and Liam Kelly across the city, whose careers have forced them into a kind of Faustian pact. They secure their financial future, often at the expense of game time and international recognition.

Celtic women ready to take title race to the wire 

A potentially pivotal weekend in the Scottish Women’s Premier League season saw the leaders slip up, Celtic take full advantage and the title race become so tight that it’s almost impossible to call.

Just three points separate the division’s top four sides after pacesetters Glasgow City were beaten by Hibs and Celtic cruised to a 4-0 triumph at home to Hearts.

The latest twist in an unpredictable campaign means Elena Sadiku’s side can now join City on 47 points if they win their game in hand, against Queen’s Park at Ochilview on Wednesday.

Elena Sadiku is determined to see her Celtic side return to the top of the SWPL table

It’s a welcome boost for Celtic at the end of a difficult spell. First they lost to Rangers in the Sky Sports Cup semi-final. Then they waved goodbye to defender Caitlin Hayes, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion.

But they bounced back against Hearts, especially during an impressive first half when Shannon McGregor, Saoirse Noonan and Morgan Cross put Celtic three up. Natalie Ross added another after the interval.

That Sadiku also managed to give debuts to new signings Emma Westin and Abi Harrison made it a perfect day’s work for the club who are hoping to gather momentum at a crucial stage of the season.

Celtic can’t go top of the table on Wednesday night, but they can move alongside Glasgow City and eat into the leaders’ goal-difference advantage before the sides meet in a Scottish Cup tie at Petershill Park this weekend.

It’s shaping up to be a crucial few days for Celtic, in the league and cup, but it would be remiss of Sadiku to look beyond their next game.

‘I’ve said it to the girls, everything is in our hands,’ said Sadiku. ‘Obviously, we are wanting to push forward now and wanting to score many goals. Hopefully, we can try to score a lot on Wednesday and try to take us back to the top of the league. We’re fully focused on that game.’