Celtic could sign new Larsson for just £5m

Celtic need to sign a new centre-forward in the summer transfer window, as they do not yet have a consistent, proven goalscorer in that position.

No Hoops striker has scored more than four goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, but their struggles in that position may be down to their recruitment strategy.

In search of bargains, Celtic continue to sign forwards who failed to score regularly at their previous clubs. Tomas Kvankala arrived in January having scored one goal in 11 Super Lig games. Kelechi Iheanacho scored four goals in 26 games last season and joined last summer.

Makoto Yamada signed with the Scottish Giants last summer after scoring two goals in 21 games for Meiji Yasuda J1 League in 2025, but he failed to score a single goal for Celtic and was sent back on loan in January.

Therefore, the club should aim to sign a forward who can improve his game in front of goal and be an instant hit, and Claudio Braga would be one of them.

Why Celtic want to sign Claudio Braga

It was reported earlier this month that the Hoops were planning to sign Hearts’ Portuguese attacker when the summer transfer window opens.

He’s more of a second striker than a full-fledged No. 9, but with his form in the Premiership this season it’s easy to see why Celtic would want to bring him to Parkhead.

The 26-year-old star has made 29 league appearances for Jam Tarts, scoring 12 goals with an 11.18xG and showing he can score consistently and efficiently in Scotland’s top flight.

However, the Hearts sensation has often played in a supporting role behind the more physical Lawrence Shankland, and that may not be the role given to him at Celtic.

That’s why the Hoops should look elsewhere to find their next Henrik Larsson, despite being a proven Premiership star who looks like a logical signing on paper.

Any new Celtic centre-forward will likely be compared to Larsson as he is Parkhead’s gold standard number nine. The Swedish striker’s return to action, with 241 goals in 315 games, may never be repeated in modern football fashion.

However, Celtic could find a second-best solution in the summer transfer window by snapping up Tawanda Maswanhise from Motherwell in place of Bulaga.

The Hoops were reported to be interested in the Zimbabwean international, who is worth £5m in January, and are expected to make a move later this year.

Maswanhise has been even more effective than Braga in the Premiership, scoring 16 goals in the league this season, and has the physical and technical attributes to be Celtic’s next closest player to Larsson.

Like the legendary Swedish marksman, the Motherwell centre-forward has it all in his locker. He’s fast, he’s strong, he has a great first touch, he can dribble, he can assist, and his finishing is sublime.

The former Leicester City academy prospect scored 16 goals with an 11.64 xG, scoring four more than Braga, and also provided two assists.

Maswanhise, described by writer Kai Watson as “on fire”, is unafraid to stick to the physical side required of a Premiership No.9, winning 43 per cent of his ground games.

Braga, on the other hand, wins 35% of her ground duels and is neither as strong nor as fast as Motherwell Sensation, so she doesn’t have the same raw physical characteristics.

The £5m-rated centre-forward’s all-round play is excellent and he has proven it regularly in the Premiership without ever playing for a team in the top three in the division.

This suggests he has outperformed all players in the league this season and is ready to step up to play for Celtic, which is why he could be the next Larsson as a consistent goal-scoring striker for the club.

After years of signing underperforming strikers and watching them continue to underperform at Parkhead, by signing an in-form centre-forward who can come in and hit the ground running, the Hoops may finally be able to find their next Larsson.