Sport nationCeltic’s Bid for Sondre Ørjasæter Rejected by Sarpsborg 08
Celtic’s pursuit of Norwegian winger Sondre Ørjasæter has hit a snag after Sarpsborg 08 rejected their initial bid. The Scottish Premiership giants offered around £4.4 million (€5.25 million) for the 21-year-old, but Sarpsborg are holding out for a higher fee, closer to £7 million.
Ørjasæter has been a key player for Sarpsborg, and the club’s sporting director, Hampus Andersson, has made it clear that they do not wish to sell him during the January transfer window. Andersson stated that Ørjasæter is a “highly valued player” and that their main goal is to keep him until at least the end of the season.
“We’re not looking to sell Sondre this window,” Andersson said. “He’s an important player for us, and we want to keep him for the rest of the season.”
Celtic are expected to return to the negotiating table, but it remains to be seen whether they will meet Sarpsborg’s asking price. The Scottish club is also exploring other options, including Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden, who has been scouted by Celtic talent-spotters.
Kvistgaarden is reportedly valued at around £10 million, and Celtic may face competition from Eintracht Frankfurt, who are also interested in signing the Danish midfielder.
With the transfer deadline looming, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is under pressure to bolster his squad, particularly after the departure of Kyogo to Rennes. The Scottish club has already signed Jota from Al-Ittihad, but Rodgers is keen to add more depth to his squad.
Celtic’s pursuit of Ørjasæter and Kvistgaarden highlights the club’s ambition to strengthen their squad and compete with the best teams in the Scottish Premiership and beyond.
However, Sarpsborg’s reluctance to sell Ørjasæter may prove to be a significant obstacle for Celtic. The Norwegian club is determined to keep their star player, and it may take a significant offer to persuade them to change their minds.
Sport Nation 2
Sport nation
