Let’s rewind to January. Celtic fans were hearing a lot about Sondre Ørjasæter, the Norwegian winger lighting up the Eliteserien with Sarpsborg…

Sondre Orjasaeter of Norway during the UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier playoff football match between Norway and Finland on November 19, 2024 in Stavanger. Photo: Marius Simensen

Brendan Rodgers was said to be keen. The club were ready. But Sarpsborg weren’t budging, not unless someone stumped up £7 million. Talks stalled. The moment passed. Or so we thought.

Fast-forward to July, and the name Ørjasæter is back on the radar — this time with a very different backdrop. What’s changed? Well, a whole lot. And, in typical summer transfer fashion, it might all come down to a transfer chain reaction involving Napoli, PSV, and Benfica – Guess who could come next?

Let’s break it down. Anyone got some dominoes?

Over in Italy, Napoli are in advanced talks to sign Noa Lang from PSV. Cracking player. Reports say personal terms are agreed, and the clubs are ironing out the last bits of a €30 million deal. Lang wants the move, Napoli want him, and PSV? Well, they’ll take the money if they get their figure but will need a replacement. Here’s Fabrizio Romano’s update on that one.

Enter Andreas Schjelderup. The 20-year-old Norwegian is a classy operator — left-footed, direct, and technically sharp. He’s currently with Benfica but hasn’t had much of a look-in there, having returned to Denmark on loan last season, where he played alongside Benjamin Nygren with Nordsjælland . PSV see Schjelderup as a like-for-like replacement for Lang. But Benfica won’t let him go cheap. And PSV aren’t in the mood to be held hostage. Here’s Efrem Konur’s update on that one.

Which brings us to their leverage, or alternative, whatever way you want to look at it.

If PSV fail to land Schjelderup, they are expected to pick up the phone to Sarpsborg for Ørjasæter — again.

They’ve scouted him, they like him, and they’re about to be flush with Lang money, but are they keeping that move hanging for now?

Multiple outlets in Norway and Scotland reported that Celtic had reignited talks with Sarpsborg, and this time were a bit keener than January. Brendan Rodgers wishes to bolster wide options. Ørjasæter could be that man. But it’s gone quiet over the last couple of weeks.

Moldes Halldor Stenevik og Sarpsborg 08s Sondre Orjasaeter under eliteseriekampen i fotball mellom Sarpsborg 08 og Molde pa Sarpsborg Stadion. Foto: Christoffer Andersen / NTB Sarpsborg Norge

He’s 21, he’s scored goals in a competitive league, and he fits the profile — left-sided, direct, athletic, improving – and available for a fee that perhaps now feels now feels more justifiable?

Celtic are also keeping tabs on Michel-Ange Balikwisha, the Antwerp winger. More experienced, arguably even a bit further on in his journey, less expensive than Ørjasæter. Do Celtic think they can get him for much less than Ørjasæter? Possibly, or is Ørjasæter, the preferred choice, is there’s a sense of unfinished business, are Celtic doing to Balikwisha what PSV seem to be doing with Ørjasæter?

PSV may be more willing to splash the cash than Celtic, particularly if their big-ticket summer sale goes through. Celtic’s hasn’t, just yet, but is possible soon, if Nicolas Kuhn heads to the Bundesliga or elsewhere. But it seems PSV have a signing they would prefer.

Sondre Orjasaeter of Norway during the UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier playoff football match between Norway and Finland on November 19, 2024 in Stavanger. Photo: Marius Simensen

Of course, we’ve been down this road before. Celtic line up a deal, then wait. Another club swoops, and we’re left with “we were pure close an’ that” stories. But if Lang goes to Napoli, and PSV get Schjelderup, the path is clear. Ørjasæter becomes Celtic’s to lose – in theory at least!

The question is — do we wait and see how the dominoes fall, or do we take control and push the first one over ourselves?

We’ve seen this play out plenty of times. Remember the Jota deal as we haggled to make his original loan a permanent deal? Or more recently, the Bernardo renegotiation of the option to buy fee, or Adam Idah, missed flights, then overpaying. The list goes on.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers presents a special award to Celtic’s most decorated player James Forrest. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, 17 May 2025 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

Situations where we delayed and others sniffed around. There’s a reason Brendan Rodgers is pressing for early business and it’s not just wanting players in for pre-season. He knows hesitation costs.

Ørjasæter isn’t just a talent. He’s a player who could be moulded, improved, and, yes, potentially sold on. But more importantly, he could impact this team now. Pace, control, goals from wide, it’s what we need, what Rodgers wants – and Jota won’t be playing anytime soon.

If Napoli take Lang, and PSV get Schjelderup, then it’s a gift-wrapped opportunity for Celtic. But we shouldn’t need that to make a move.

Sondre Ørjasæter was good enough in January. He’s still good enough now. The difference? Now there’s competition. So, let’s not wait for the dominoes to fall. Let’s knock them over ourselves.

Niall J

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