Celtic are actively exploring options to strengthen their attacking options out wide this summer, with the Scottish champions determined to add genuine quality and depth to their flanks ahead of another demanding campaign.
While one particular target remains the primary focus of ongoing negotiations, the club are understood to be keeping several alternative names firmly on their radar should those talks fail to produce a breakthrough.
The Hoops continue to hold discussions over a potential move for Hassan, the Real Oviedo attacker whose arrival would represent a significant addition to the squad.
Those negotiations, however, have yet to reach a conclusion, prompting Celtic’s recruitment team to widen their search and assess other realistic possibilities that could deliver similar impact on the wings.
One of the players currently under serious consideration is Lazio’s Matteo Cancellieri. The 24-year-old Italian has attracted interest from elsewhere in recent weeks, including from West Ham United, and finds himself entering the final twelve months of his contract in Rome.
That contractual situation alone creates a window of opportunity for clubs looking to secure a talented, experienced attacker without necessarily paying a premium fee associated with a longer-term deal.
Lazio’s own financial circumstances could further tilt the balance in Celtic’s favour. The Serie A side are reported to be under pressure to generate funds before they can progress with further additions of their own. Player sales are therefore likely to form a key part of their summer strategy, opening the door for interested parties to enter negotiations with a realistic chance of success.
Cancellieri already boasts a solid foundation of top-level experience. He has made more than 100 appearances in Serie A, benefiting from regular game time both during loan spells away from Lazio and in spells with the first-team squad in the Italian capital.
That combination of domestic top-flight exposure and developmental minutes has helped shape a versatile winger capable of operating on either flank and contributing goals and assists in competitive environments.
According to reports from LazioChannel, Celtic’s interest is genuine and is currently viewed as the “most logical move” for the player.
The same sources, however, indicate that Lazio place a valuation of €15 million — just under £13 million — on the attacker. That figure would place any potential deal above the reported cost of Kasper Høgh’s move to Celtic, which is understood to be worth £11 million plus add-ons, and would represent another substantial outlay for the Parkhead club if the Italian side held firm.
Such a price tag means significant negotiation would almost certainly be required. It is difficult to envisage Celtic meeting Lazio’s reported asking price in full, particularly given the club’s usual approach to transfer business and the need to balance the books carefully. Discussions could therefore centre on a reduced fixed fee, a structure involving performance-related add-ons, or other creative arrangements that bridge the gap between the two clubs’ valuations.
The combination of Cancellieri’s contract situation, Lazio’s requirement to raise funds, and Celtic’s concrete interest makes him a name worth monitoring closely as the window progresses. Whether a deal ultimately materialises will depend on how flexible Lazio prove to be and whether Celtic decide the potential upside justifies pushing hard for an agreement. For now, the interest is real, the opportunity exists, and the coming weeks will reveal whether the Scottish champions can turn that interest into a tangible addition to their squad.