With reports indicating the Scottish champions are now likely to step up their interest in the coming days as they go head-to-head with English side West Ham United for the attacker’s signature. The development forms part of a busy summer window for the Hoops, who are looking to bolster their attacking options following significant outgoing transfers and with the new Scottish Premiership season just over a week away.
Interest in the 24-year-old Italian first surfaced in the wake of Daizen Maeda’s £10 million departure to Ipswich Town. The Japanese forward’s exit left a clear vacancy on the flanks and in the forward line, prompting Celtic’s recruitment team to explore a number of targets across Europe. Cancellieri, a versatile attacker who can operate as a wide forward or through the middle as a striker, has quickly risen up the shortlist. He made 30 appearances in Serie A last season and is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Lazio, which runs until June 2027. That relatively short remaining term is expected to make negotiations more straightforward should an agreement on personal terms and a transfer fee be reached.
According to sources close to the situation, Celtic are preparing to accelerate their pursuit of Cancellieri in the immediate future. InsideFutbol reported that the Parkhead club are “likely to step up their interest” in the West Ham target over the next few days. Several clubs have been monitoring the player, but Celtic’s growing seriousness could force the Hammers into a decision. Whether that prompts West Ham to move first remains unclear, yet the competitive dynamic between the two clubs has added urgency to proceedings on both sides of the border.
Celtic’s Summer Business So Far and the Push for Further Reinforcements
Celtic’s transfer activity this summer has been measured but purposeful. The only permanent incoming deal completed to date is the £6 million capture of striker Camilo Duran from Qarabag. The Colombian forward arrived as the club sought to add depth and alternative options up front. Parallel to that, Celtic are understood to be closing in on an £11 million agreement for Bodo/Glimt marksman Kasper Hogh. The Norwegian striker is currently undergoing his medical, and if everything proceeds smoothly the deal is expected to be finalised in the coming days. Hogh’s arrival would provide further firepower and competition in the final third as the Hoops prepare for domestic and European campaigns.
Beyond the forward positions, Celtic have also shown interest in Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur. The 22-year-old German has been monitored as a potential addition to the engine room. However, a reported £4 million bid was rejected by the recently promoted Bundesliga 2 side. Paderborn’s Sporting Director Sebastian Lange has since issued a clear public statement on the matter, pushing back against speculation that any agreement was close. Speaking via The Sun, Lange stated: “That’s nonsense. I have no idea where this stuff comes from. Have there been offers for players during this transfer window? Yes. Are there offers right now? No. Why not? Because we rejected them all. There are sporting and financial reasons for this. Ultimately, we decide what is of interest to us. And everything that came in was, from a financial standpoint, of no interest.”
Lange continued: “We have received offers for a few players. That’s nothing unusual. I don’t want to name names, because I don’t want to spoil the market for one or two of them. For the club, the transfer fee alone isn’t the deciding factor anyway — rather, a transfer has to make sense both financially and in sporting terms. We have a squad valuation that we calculate internally using a specific formula. There is a sporting value and a financial value.” The firm stance from Paderborn has not completely closed the door on Baur, but it has made clear that any future approach would need to meet significantly higher expectations on both the sporting and financial fronts. For now, Celtic’s primary focus appears to have shifted more heavily towards the attacking options, with Cancellieri and Hogh dominating the immediate agenda.
Who Is Matteo Cancellieri?
Matteo Cancellieri is a product of the Italian football system and possesses a well-travelled yet still developing career path. He came through the ranks at AS Roma on the other side of the Italian capital before moving to Hellas Verona, where he made his senior breakthrough. A successful loan spell at Lazio followed, after which the permanent transfer to the Stadio Olimpico was completed in June 2022. Since then he has remained with the Biancocelesti, although he has also spent time on loan at Empoli and Parma to gain further regular first-team experience.
Across his senior career to date, Cancellieri has registered 13 goals in 142 appearances. He earned a solitary senior cap for Italy in 2022, underlining the early recognition of his potential at international level. At 24 he is entering what many scouts regard as a pivotal stage of his development. His ability to play wide or centrally gives him tactical flexibility that would appeal to Celtic manager Martin particularly in a system that often requires attackers to interchange positions and press high. Last season’s 30 Serie A outings demonstrated that he can handle the physical and technical demands of top-flight football, even if consistent starting opportunities at Lazio have sometimes been limited by competition for places.
With his contract entering its final year, Lazio are understood to be open to offers that reflect both his current market value and the risk of losing him for a reduced fee or nothing in 12 months’ time. Celtic’s reported willingness to step up interest suggests the club believe a deal is achievable and that the player’s profile fits the requirements left by Maeda’s departure and the broader need for greater attacking depth.
West Ham’s Position and the Bowen Factor
West Ham United’s interest in Cancellieri sits against a complex backdrop. The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and are now preparing for life in the Championship. Despite the drop, the club remain in a strong financial position after generating upwards of £140 million from the sales of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville. That war chest has given them the ability to compete for quality players even while adjusting to second-tier football.
A key variable in West Ham’s recruitment plans is the future of captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen. The England international is currently expected to remain at the club despite the relegation, yet lingering speculation continues to surround his long-term future. Should Bowen stay, the need for another high-quality attacking option such as Cancellieri may be less urgent. Conversely, any uncertainty around Bowen could accelerate the Hammers’ interest in the Lazio man. Celtic’s decision to increase their activity in the coming days may therefore serve as a catalyst, forcing West Ham to clarify their intentions sooner rather than later.
The Clock Is Ticking Toward the New Season
Celtic’s competitive season is scheduled to begin in just over a week when they host Dundee at Celtic Park. That tight timeframe places additional pressure on the recruitment department to conclude outstanding business. Securing Hogh would provide an immediate boost to the forward line, while progress on Cancellieri would address the wide areas left thinner by Maeda’s exit. Duran’s arrival has already given the squad a new focal point, yet further reinforcements are viewed as necessary if the club are to maintain their domestic dominance and compete effectively in Europe.
The simultaneous pursuit of multiple targets is typical of Celtic’s approach in recent windows: identify high-potential players whose contracts or club situations create realistic windows of opportunity, then move decisively when the moment is right. Cancellieri fits that template. His age, versatility, Serie A experience and contract situation all align with the profile Celtic have successfully recruited in the past. Whether the stepped-up interest translates into a formal bid and eventual transfer remains to be seen, but the signals from Glasgow are clear: the Lazio winger is very much on the radar and the club are prepared to compete with West Ham to get their man.
For supporters, the coming days will be closely watched. Any concrete development on Cancellieri, confirmation of Hogh’s medical, or further updates on the Baur situation will shape the narrative of Celtic’s summer and set the tone for the campaign ahead. As things stand on 27 July 2026, the Hoops are actively working to strengthen the squad and are not prepared to sit back while rival clubs, including West Ham, circle the same targets. The transfer race for Matteo Cancellieri is very much alive, and Celtic appear determined to play a leading role in how it unfolds.
Stay tuned for further updates as the transfer window continues and more details emerge on Celtic’s attacking reinforcements.