Benjamin Nygren to Celtic transfer fee revealed as Brendan Rodgers closes in on man who was once hotter than Zlatan
Celtic are closing in on Swedish ace Benjamin Nygren – who was once tipped as a hotter prospect than superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Hoops are set for talks with the 23-year-old Nordsjaelland attacker and could seal the deal for just £1.7million with the youngster's current deal up at the end of the year.
Danish big guns Copenhagen are also in the hunt, along with Anderlecht and sides in the MLS.
But boss Brendan Rodgers and Celts have already stolen a march having been granted permission to open discussions.
Nygren has admitted he's keen for a new challenge this summer after his career sparked back to life in Denmark.
The wide man – who can also play as a no.10 – was a sensation when he broke into the IFK Goteborg side at just 17-year-old with pundits suggesting he was ahead of Swedish legend Zlatan at the same age.
Then Goteborg boss Poya Asbaghi said: 'I've worked with him for over a year, so now it's no longer surprising. But I haven't worked with anyone like him before, to be honest.
'He is much further along than the guys I have met his age. I have highlighted Nygren as a great talent many times.
'Then I can't highlight him as often as I want because I also know the pressure it brings.
'Here we have a player who has extremely high potential. The expectations for Benja are very, very high.
'When he hasn't scored two goals after two training matches, people start to wonder, 'What's going on with Benja?'
'But he's 17 years old. What did Zlatan do when he was 17? He barely played football then. Nygren does and he plays in the Allsvenskan.
'That alone is big. But the expectations can't be as high on him as they have been.
'Benjamin if anyone is good at handling pressure – but he also has to have a coach who comes to him and says that the pressure is disproportionate if it is.'
Nygren was snapped up by Belgians Genk for £4.5m after less than 20 top team appearances but the move didn't go to plan and landed in Denmark following a loan spell in Holland.
He's roared back to form with Nordsjaelland though and has emerged as one of the top players in Denmark in the last 12 months, landing a pick in the team of the season after notching 16 goals.
Nygren also blasted his way into the Sweden national side and he has hit the net in the last two of his three appearances, with goals against Northern Ireland and Hungary.
Celts are hoping to push a deal over the line early but also remain in the hunt for several attacking options, including Sarpsborg's Sondre Orjasaeter and Royal Antwerp's Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
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