Daizen Maeda, who started as the main striker, has only scored eight goals in 31 matches in all competitions, per Sofascore, and the club could sign an upgrade on him before the end of the window.
Celtic make contact to sign new centre-forward
The Scottish giants are reportedly exploring deals for different targets as they look to bolster their frontline, and they have now made contact with one of them.
Celtic made it two wins out of two since Martin O’Neill returned to the dugout with a narrow 1-0 win away at Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.
The club’s top goalscorer this season, Benjamin Nygren, found the back of the net from close range just before half-time to give the away side the lead.
However, it adds that they are one of a number of European sides eyeing up a move for the impressive number nine, who Celje want to keep hold of if they can.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph backs up Hendry’s claims, saying that Celtic are “exploring” a deal to sign the forward and that they have ramped up their efforts to land a new striker “in the last 48hrs with enquiries made on a number of targets.”
It was reported earlier this month that the Slovenian team would be tempted to cash in for a fee of around £2.6m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are willing to pay that price for his services.Why Celtic should sign Kovacevic
The Scottish giants should stump up the £2.6m because his performances this season suggest that he has the potential to come through the door at Parkhead as an upgrade on Maeda up front.
The 26-year-old star, who Croatia national team boss Zlatko Dalic said has “scored many goals”, has scored 13 goals in 15 domestic matches for Celje, including 11 goals in 14 games in the Slovenian top-flight, per Transfermarkt.
Kovacevic, who played for Hyun-jun Yang’s former club Gangwon FC in 2024, has racked up a staggering 25 goals in 28 matches this season in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, whilst Maeda has only scored eight times.
As you can see in the table above, the Croatian marksman has also shown that he can perform on the European stage, as well as domestically, as he is the top scorer in the Conference League this season.Kovacevic, who only signed for Celje last summer, also scored four goals in four Europa League qualifiers and three goals in three Conference League qualifiers, which shows that he has adapted to every level that he has played at for the Slovenian outfit.
As a natural out-and-out number nine, the Croatian star would provide Celtic with a focal point and reliable source of goals that Maeda cannot be right now, which would then allow the Japanese ace to play in his natural position out wide, rather than as a makeshift striker.
Therefore, this could be a fantastic signing for Celtic because Kovacevic could be the prolific scorer that they lack, whilst also freeing up Maeda to get back to his best in a wide position