Thomas Gravesen urges Celtic to sign Denmark’s next big striker as the Hoops weigh up a summer swoop for Mathias Kvistgaarden
Celtic may be riding high in the league, but serious questions remain about the depth of their attacking options. While Kyogo Furuhashi has led the line with distinction since his arrival, and Daizen Maeda has shown blistering form through the middle, the Hoops are still widely viewed as one clinical, natural No.9 short. Former Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen believes he has the answer—and he’s called on the club to act decisively in the summer transfer window.
The one-time Real Madrid and Everton star, who made 29 appearances for Celtic during a short but memorable spell in 2006/07, has made a rare but passionate plea from Denmark. Speaking to Tiplsbladet, Gravesen heaped glowing praise on 22-year-old striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, who currently plays for Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga. While he may no longer be involved in the footballing mainstream, Gravesen’s insight into Danish football remains sharp—and his comments are impossible to ignore.
“He [Kvistgaarden] is shining in his absence at Brøndby,” said Gravesen. “They should be happy that he is there and enjoy the time he has left, because he has scored 10 goals, and none of them are from penalties. If he moves to Scotland, I am sure that he can reach Henrik Larsson’s level if he spends five to ten years at Celtic. He is simply that good and strong.”
That’s not a throwaway compliment. That’s a colossal endorsement.
To invoke Larsson’s name is to speak of football royalty in Glasgow. The Swedish icon remains a demigod at Celtic Park, scoring 242 goals in 315 appearances, winning four league titles, two Scottish Cups, and two League Cups, and taking the club to a UEFA Cup final in 2003. He wasn’t just a goal machine—he was a leader, an ambassador, and a talisman. To compare any player to Larsson is to place immense weight on their shoulders. But that’s exactly what Gravesen has done with Kvistgaarden.
So, who is this young Dane that has captured Gravesen’s imagination?
Mathias Kvistgaarden is a product of the Brøndby academy and has grown into a key figure at the club. A striker with a well-rounded skill set, he combines work rate, intelligence, physicality, and clinical finishing. What stands out about Kvistgaarden is not just his technical ability, but his maturity and footballing intelligence. At just 22 years of age, he has already assumed a leading role in Brøndby’s attack, and he doesn’t rely on penalties to pad his stats—his 10 goals this season have all come from open play, which demonstrates a natural instinct for getting into the right positions and taking chances under pressure.
Brøndby chairman Jan Bech Andersen has recently made comments suggesting that the club are preparing for a future without Kvistgaarden, hinting that offers may soon be on the table. That, coupled with Celtic’s well-documented interest in the January window, makes it increasingly likely that a renewed summer bid is forthcoming.
From a squad perspective, it would make perfect sense. Brendan Rodgers is believed to be a fan of dynamic, press-friendly centre-forwards who can both finish chances and lead the line defensively. Kyogo has mastered this, but he has also carried the burden of being Celtic’s main goal threat across multiple campaigns. While Adam Idah has proven to be a valuable addition since arriving from Norwich City—scoring important goals and offering physical presence—his loan status means Celtic may need to negotiate a permanent deal in the summer or seek alternatives. Daizen Maeda, though electrifying, is not a natural striker and is best deployed on the wing.
A move for Kvistgaarden would represent long-term planning—something that the Celtic board, led by Michael Nicholson, have tried to prioritise in recent windows. Young, talented, and with obvious room to develop, Kvistgaarden fits the club’s recruitment model: identify undervalued players from lesser-known markets, develop them into top-level performers, and potentially profit from a future sale. It’s the same blueprint that brought success with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Moussa Dembélé, and even Reo Hatate.
Yet, with Gravesen’s public comments now drawing even more attention to the Danish striker, Celtic may face competition. Other clubs will be watching closely, and with Kvistgaarden under contract, Brøndby may feel emboldened to demand a significant fee—possibly in the £4–6 million range, or higher if bidding intensifies.
Then there’s the intangible factor—the weight of expectation. Being called the “next Larsson” is both flattering and daunting. It builds a narrative before the player has even kicked a ball at Celtic Park. The fans, always passionate and emotionally invested, would need to be patient. Kvistgaarden is not Larsson. No one is. But could he become a Celtic great in his own right? That’s the question that Gravesen clearly believes should be asked.
Ultimately, whether Celtic pull the trigger on the move remains to be seen. But what’s certain is that the striker issue cannot be ignored this summer. The club is back competing in the Champions League, domestic rivals are improving, and Rodgers will want reinforcements as he continues to reshape the squad in his image.
Mathias Kvistgaarden might not become Henrik Larsson. But if he becomes even half the player, Celtic fans will have a new hero to sing about.
Would you like a detailed player comparison between Kvistgaarden, Kyogo, and Idah in terms of stats, style, or suitability for Celtic?