Celtic ended the January transfer window with just two additions.
Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers snapped up Jota’s return to the Bhoys and signed Crystal Palace defender Jeffrey Schlupp on loan for Celtic on transfer deadline day as he looked to strengthen his squad for the title run-in.
However, Rodgers failed to sign a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi after the Japanese striker decided to leave Celtic Park and join Rennes.
Despite being linked to various players, Rodgers failed to get Kyogo’s replacement and he now goes into the final stages of the season with just Adam Idah and Johnny Kenny.
But now, the Hoops gaffer has been told that on top of Celtic trying to sign Mathias Kvistgaarden, there were two other strikers Rodgers could have looked at who could have done a job for him in Glasgow.
Brendan Rodgers told Europa League striker is ‘superb’
Dougie Anderson is a UEFA C Licence coach, analyst intern for Livingston FC and a coach/analyst for East Fife.
Using a data-driven approach using Wyscout, Anderson has recommended Union Saint-Gilloise striker Franjo Ivanovic.
Anderson said, “My other recommendation is Franjo Ivanovic, who just played against Rangers for USG last week.
“He’s 21 and has 10 goals in 18 in the Pro League this season (tougher league than Denmark).
He’s a superb finisher from different angles and ranges, he also presses really well and actually tries to win the ball, not just cut off passing lanes.”
My other recommendation is Franjo Ivanovic, who just played against Rangers for USG last week.
— Dougie Anderson (@CoachDougieA) February 3, 2025
He's 21 and has 10 goals in 18 in the Pro League this season (tougher league than Denmark).
He's superb finisher from different angles and ranges, he also presses really well and… pic.twitter.com/M8EJQ1d0Y0
MLS striker Kelvin Yeboah as a striker with ‘pace & power’ for Celtic
Anderson then went on to recommend MLS striker, Kelvin Yeboah and Ivanovic’s teammate, Promise David as he continued, “Because of the data I also looked at Kelvin Yeboah for Minnesota Utd but a couple of his goals were penalties and he didn’t seem to be as technically good as the other two.
“Ivanovic’s teammate, Promise David (great name) also showed up well in the data but didn’t seem to be as intelligent with his movement as someone like Kyogo and relied on his pace and power to get in behind and fashion chances, which Rodgers may actually prefer?”
Maybe Rodgers will look at Kvistgaarden in the summer again but until that time, Celtic fans will wonder just what the Northern Irishman will have up his sleeve then.
