Celtic could land huge Cvancara upgrade for £5m

Saturday marked a pivotal day for Celtic’s Premiership title hopes, with Martin O’Neill overseeing a 3-1 comeback win at Parkhead to close the gap to just two points on the league leaders.

With Hearts subsequently enduring a shock defeat away at Rugby Park, the momentum is beginning to shift somewhat, with the Hoops also managing to end any lingering talk of a surprise Motherwell title charge in the process.

In the bigger picture too, was it a meeting between the current Celtic manager and his potential replacement? Talk remains rife that ‘Well boss Jens Berthel Askou is a frontrunner to replace O’Neill this summer, following a fine season in charge at Fir Park.

The Danish coach certainly isn’t the only candidate – with Robbie Keane also in the mix – but his work in 2025/26 can’t be ignored, while the man himself appears desperate for the move by all accounts.

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If Saturday’s clash was something of an audition, Askou may well be frustrated at the eventual outcome, albeit with his side ultimately undone following Emmanuel Longelo’s red card late on.

Regardless, what the 47-year-old has overseen up to this point remains remarkable, with The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell only recently hailing Motherwell as “Britain’s most tactically interesting team“.

Indeed, Askou has built the division’s best defence, with just 23 goals conceded, albeit while deploying an attractive and progressive style of play following his arrival from IFK Goteborg last summer.

A move to Parkhead has unsurprisingly been mooted in recent weeks and months, with O’Neill expected to depart for good at the end of the campaign, after twice coming to the rescue this season.

According to journalist Michael Gannon, speaking on the Record Celtic Podcast on Monday, Askou is believed to be “extremely keen” to make the switch, after just a solitary season at Fir Park:

“From what I’m told, he [Askou] is extremely keen on that Celtic job. I know some people say he’s looking further afield and that stuff, but from what I’m hearing, from people around about his orbit, he would jog along the M74 to Parkhead.

I don’t think there’s any doubt about that at all. I think he would snap it up in a heartbeat.”

If Askou is to be the man, then he needs to be backed sufficiently this summer, with one potential deal certainly standing out above the rest.

Celtic could land Cvancara upgrade as dream first Askou signing

Chaotic doesn’t even cover it when discussing Celtic’s season so far, although even after Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, and Wilfried Nancy’s 33-day disaster, O’Neill has led the Hoops firmly back into the title race, with a potential Scottish Cup triumph also on the cards.

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The Hoops are planning for life after O’Neill.

The 74-year-old has overseen something of a resurgence even while ‘blessed’ with a flawed, bloated and injury-hit squad in Glasgow, one which still doesn’t include a proven or prolific centre-forward.

January arrival, Junior Adamu, is already out in the cold, as too is free agent signing, Kelechi Iheanacho, with the only real signs of life having come from Tomas Cvancara in recent weeks and months.

The Czech striker did net from the penalty spot last time out, although that marked just his second goal since signing on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach, with the jury out on whether Celtic should invest the reported £7m that it would take to land him permanently this summer.

Instead, Celtic – especially if led by Askou – should look to Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise as something of an upgrade, with the Zimbabwean having enjoyed a real breakthrough, standout season in 2025/26.

Signed from Leicester City in 2024, after making only a solitary senior appearance, Maswanhise has built on a solid first year to dazzle this time around, now leading the way in the division with 16 goals thus far.

Such form sparked “extreme interest” in his signature back in the winter window, as Askou later revealed, although the high-flying Premiership side held firm, with a summer exit a more likely prospect.

Celtic strikers* – 25/26 SPFL
Player	Games	Goals
Kenny	15	4
Iheanacho	5	2
Cvancara	7	2
Adamu	3	0
Osmand	1	0
Yamada	8	0
Total	39	8
*Maswanhise	27	16

Reports last month outlined that the 23-year-old – who reportedly has a £5m asking price – could be allowed to leave ahead of next term, with ‘Well ready to listen to offers for him.

Maswanhise – who has described Askou as “similar” to his former Leicester boss, Rodgers – has already thrived under the Scandinavian’s watch, ensuring his form could well be replicated if he follows his manager to Glasgow.

Cvancara – or ‘Big Tam’ – has his merits, yet having now scored just 12 goals since the start of 2023/24 in all competitions, whether he is the solution as Celtic’s leading striker remains to be seen.

In Maswanhise, who boasts 21 goals this season alone, the Hoops could find the perfect upgrade, with such a deal surely set to be the ideal pick if Askou does take charge this summer.