Celtic are closing in on the signing of central midfielder Oliver Sorensen to bolster their midfield ranks earlier than Thursday night’s switch deadline.
The Hoops have agreed a deal to signal the 24-year-old expertise on a season-long mortgage from Italian aspect Parma, and have an choice to make the transfer everlasting subsequent summer time.
Sorensen was an unused substitute for Parma’s first two matches of the Serie A marketing campaign and is now headed to Paradise within the hope of enjoying extra repeatedly.
He’ll bolster Martin O’Neill‘s choices in the midst of the park and compete with the likes of Callum McGregor, Mika Baur, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke McCowan, and fellow incoming signing Joel van den Berg for minutes.
Why Oliver Sorensen is a dangerous signing for Celtic
This transfer appears to be like like a dangerous piece of enterprise on paper for Celtic as a result of they’re signing a participant who struggled to ship constant performances within the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
The previous FC Midtjylland star solely began 19 of his 34 appearances within the division earlier than being benched in the beginning of this season, and now he’s being loaned out and probably bought by the Italian aspect.
Sorensen didn’t ship excellent high quality in any part of play for Parma within the league final time period, as he didn’t supply a lot to the aspect as an attacking menace, as a defender, or as a duel winner.
|
25/26 Serie A |
Oliver Sorensen |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
34 |
|
Begins |
19 |
|
Targets |
1 |
|
Assists |
1 |
|
Tackles per recreation |
0.5 |
|
Interceptions per recreation |
0.5 |
|
Floor duel success fee |
42% |
|
Aerial duel success fee |
36% |
There must be some concern over his lack of physicality after he misplaced the vast majority of his duels on the bottom and within the air within the Serie A, as he could not be capable to alter to the bodily aspect of the Scottish Premiership.
Baur and Oxlade-Chamberlain received 11 of their 16 floor duels within the 2-1 win over Falkirk, serving to their aspect to win the bodily aspect of the sport, and Sorensen could not be capable to supply the identical stage of dominance.
How Celtic could make a extra impactful signing than Sorensen
While the Danish midfielder appears to be like like a dangerous addition on paper as a result of his lack of influence at Parma, the membership are taking a look at a star in one other place who may make an even bigger influence on the pitch for O’Neill.
In accordance with The Chronicle, Celtic are contemplating a late transfer to signal Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope earlier than the tip of the summer time switch window.
The report claims that the Hoops stay interested by a deal for the England worldwide as they appear to bolster their goalkeeping steady forward of Thursday’s deadline.
It provides that the Magpies need to transfer him after signing Lukas Hornicek to be their new primary, and that they worth him at a payment of £5m.
Celtic, due to this fact, may see a bid of £5m accepted for the skilled shot-stopper in the event that they determine to behave upon their curiosity in him earlier than the deadline passes.
In the event that they do decide to significantly pursue a deal for the previous Burnley star, Pope could be a extra impactful signing than Sorensen due to the standard that he may present between the sticks.
|
25/26 Champions League |
Nick Pope |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
8 |
|
Profitable run-outs |
6 |
|
Save proportion |
83% |
|
Saves per recreation |
3.6 |
|
Targets prevented |
+1.27 |
|
Clear sheets |
4 |
|
Assists |
1 |
Regardless of falling out of favour at St. James’ Park this season, Pope remains to be able to delivering high-quality performances on the high stage, as evidenced by his Champions League outings final time period.
The English stopper, who even supplied an help for Harvey Barnes towards Benfica, prevented 1.27 extra targets than anticipated and saved 4 clear sheets in eight matches in Europe’s premier competitors.
Pope is an extremely skilled top-level performer, with 82 clear sheets in 248 Premier League video games, and Newcastle changing him with a youthful participant doesn’t imply that he’s not able to performing within the right here and now.
He may arrive at Parkhead as a greater possibility than Viljami Sinisalo, who has solely saved two clear sheets in 15 Premiership video games for the reason that begin of final season and conceded 5 targets to LASK within the Champions League play-off tie.
Pope would be a part of as a confirmed performer within the Premier League and the Champions League and will step in to hit the bottom working as an enormous presence between the sticks as a dependable pair of arms for Celtic.
Subsequently, he may make a a lot larger influence on the pitch than Sorensen, whose kind for Parma means that he could wrestle at Parkhead, by delivering constant and high quality shows in objective.
