Brøndby boss delivers Kvistgaarden update amid Celtic speculation

Celtic summer target Mathias Kvistgaarden will NOT be sold in the January transfer window as his club’s boss Cartsen V. Jensen confirms that Brøndby are setting their sights on winning the Danish Superliga title this season amid a tight thruway battle with Copenhagen and Midtjylland.

Broendby IF v Lyngby BK, Danish 3F Superliga 13th, August 2023. Mathias Kvistgaarden of Broendby IF seen during the 3F Superliga match at Broendby Stadion in Broendby. Photo Gonzales Photo/Teis Markfoged

Celtic are believed to have had two bids for Brøndby striker Kvistgaarden rejected in the summer, with the Scottish Champions bidding in excess of £4m for the player. And with Brendan Rodgers in the market for quality additions, with another striker being a priority, Kvistgaarden’s name has continued to be mentioned.

However earlier noises coming from his club suggested that the Brøndby transfer fee expectations were getting a little too high for Celtic, so Mark Lawwell may well have already turned his attention elsewhere.

“We are in a strong financial position, where we must take advantage of the sporting success we achieved in the autumn. We have made a decision that we have entered a transfer window where we do not sell our best players,” Jensen said to Danish outlet bold.dk.

IMAGO / Gonzales Photo – Vejle BK v Broendby IF, Danish 3F Superliga football, Vejle, Denmark Vejle, Denmark. 28th, August 2023. Mathias Kvistgaarden (36) of Broendby IF seen during the 3F Superliga match between Vejle Boldklub and Broendby IF at Vejle Stadion in Vejle. Photo Gonzales Photo/Teis Markfoged

“In other words, we are not going to sell out of the opportunities we have created in the autumn in order to go all the way this season in the Super League. That’s why we have to keep the squad together. The current squad has only been together for three and a half months.

“The potential is great. We have a strong belief that we can develop and get better with the group we have assembled. That is why it is important to keep our squad together. When you’re young and very talented it’s about being purposeful and ambitious, but also with the right amount of patience.”

Midtjylland currently top the Superliga with 36 point, Brøndby are currently two points behind on 34 points while Copenhagen, perhaps slightly distracted by their Champions League exploits, have 33 points. All three title hopefuls have played 17 games.

Back in November Kvistgaarden was certainly open to a move in the January window, after seeing Celtic’s bid fail in the summer window. Speaking in an interview with Danish magazine Tipsbladet he said.

“I’m, of course, thinking about the future, but right now, I’m keeping my focus on the present. We have many matches left in this season, but the goal is if I can produce as many good performances as possible, which will be able to help me in terms of my own future,” the Brøndby striker said.

“There’s no doubt that it’s interesting. Big clubs were supposedly present there (Brøndby´s match against FC Nordsjælland). I would be lying if I said otherwise. But I don’t want to dwell too much on such matters because I’m afraid it could divert my focus from the game on the field,” Kvistgaarden added.

“It’s hard to say which league suits me best. It varies depending on what people think and how they see me as a player in terms of where I belong. The Bundesliga is a great league, and it could be a fun place to play. But it also depends on the specific team and how they play,” the player said.

It’s unclear whether Celtic’s interest in signing the Brøndby striker has continued into this transfer window but it looks increasingly likely that it will be the summer before Mathias Kvistgaarden is sold.