Celtic could see a £6m bid accepted to sign the new striker

Celtic could be looking for a new number nine when the summer transfer window opens due to their struggles on the pitch this season.

Daizen Maeda filled the gap, scoring 14 goals in 36 Scottish Premiership games, while Junior Adamu and Tomas Cvancara both joined in January and scored two goals in the league.

Kelechi Iheanacho produced at times, scoring late winners against Motherwell and Hibernian towards the end of the campaign, but he was not always available.

Due to multiple hamstring injuries, the Nigerian played only 14 out of 38 league games, and started five out of 14.

The left-footed striker showed his quality in that limited spell, scoring five goals for the Scottish giants, but was not reliable enough for Martin O’Neill during the campaign.

Celtic could see a welcome bid for the Scottish player

It now remains to be seen whether Iheanacho, whose contract includes an option to extend for another year, will still be at Parkhead at the start of next season.

The Hoops may decide to keep the former Manchester City man as a back-up should he become available, while signing another striker who will be first-choice next week.

According to Football Insider, Celtic are interested in signing Hellas Verona defender Kieron Bowie in the middle of the summer transfer window.

The report says that the Scottish player could be available if the Italian team is relegated from Serie A, with 14 points remaining with one game remaining.

It adds that the Hoops are likely to be keen to sign the 23-year-old and will be available for £6m, meaning Celtic know how much they have to pay to see their bid accepted.

Football Insider reports that Hellas Verona signed him from Hibernian for £6m in January, amid interest from Celtic and Rangers, but their release could see them cash in at the same price.

How Kieron Bowie could be an upgrade on Kelechi Iheanacho

Celtic must go through with a deal to bring Bowie back to Scotland in the summer transfer window as it will be a dream upgrade for Iheanacho next season.

He has missed just 20 games through injury in his senior career, playing 35 or more games in three of the last four seasons, while Iheanacho missed 25 games in the 2025/26 campaign alone.

In addition to being consistently available, Bowie is a top forward who has shown his quality in one of Europe’s biggest leagues in 2026, despite his team’s relegation.

The Scottish striker has scored four goals at 3.52 xG in 13 games in Serie A, scoring against European giants Inter and Juventus in recent weeks.

Prior to his success in Italy, Bowie also scored eight goals at 5.69 xG in the Premiership with Hibs, meaning he has proven himself to be a clinical finisher in the Premiership and Serie A this season.

Iheanacho, meanwhile, has scored six goals in 6.47 xG in the Premiership and Europa League combined, missing eight ‘big chances’, for Celtic this season, suggesting he is not as clinical as the £6m-rated forward.

Bowie, who was described as a “lone striker” by writer Kai Watson, has also shown good form in Scotland and Italy, winning 5.0 duels per game in Serie A and 4.8 per game in the Premiership this season.

This suggests that the Scottish star is more suited to play as a single forward than Iheanacho, who won 1.8 duels per game in the Hoops league, because he has the strength and awareness to win duels against physical defenders.

All in all, the Hellas Verona striker will be a great fit for the Nigerian due to his availability, finishing quality, and physicality as a number nine.

On top of that, Bowie is six years younger, at 23, and could be Celtic’s number nine for years to come if they can strike a deal for his services in the summer transfer window.