A transfer battle between West Ham and Celtic for a seriously exciting talent appears to be over as the star in question makes his choice.
West Ham and Celtic seem to be intrinsically linked in this summer transfer window.
It was not so long ago that the Hammers were being heavily linked with a move for Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers when they were replacing both David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham would have had to pay compensation for the Bhoys boss, though, something majority owner David Sullivan has always been reluctant to do.
In the end the east Londoners opted for free agent Graham Potter while Rodgers remained in the east end of Glasgow.
West Ham and Celtic on collision course in summer window
One of the first ports of call for Potter and West Ham’s new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay – a Scot – was Celtic.
The duo, along with sporting director Mark Noble, left Rodgers furious after turning the head of young hotshot striker Daniel Cummings.
The Hammers did offer a paid £500k deal in January instead of having the fee set by an arbitration panel.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
But Celtic were so angry at Cummings’ decision to snub a contract at his boyhood club, they refused in the hope he might change his mind.
Cummings said goodbye to Celtic, though, and was officially unveiled as a West Ham player this week.
Graham Potter greets Brendan Rodgers in their roles as Brighton and Leicester managers
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Macaulay and Potter also had West Ham’s sights on more Celtic stars.
Both Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels were linked with a move to join Cummings at the Hammers.
West Ham assistant coach Billy Reid – another Scot – made it clear Engels is a player he rates enormously amid speculation.
Talk of either of those players moving to the London Stadium has since died down.
But that only served to put West Ham and Celtic on a collision course for another talent.
Star at centre of West Ham and Celtic battle makes his choice
And now an exciting star at the centre of a battle between West Ham and Celtic has made his choice.
While Cummings is seen as a squad player, who will dip between the first team and Under 21s initially since joining West Ham for Celtic, the two clubs allegedly wanted the same man to lead their line.
Signing a striker is a top priority for Potter this summer and it looked like being bad news for Celtic.
Multiple sources have stated the Hammers want Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden – who was dubbed ‘the new Henrik Larsson’ by ex Celtic and Premier League star Thomas Gravesen earlier this year.
Danish star Kvistgaarden has been on fire for Brondby since breaking through, scoring 47 goals in 125 games, which included the 23-year-old netting 23 times last season.
Mathias Kvistgaarden of Brøndby IF celebrates after scoring
Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
‘New Larsson’ Kvistgaarden leaves Hammers and Bhoys stunned
Kvistgaarden’s fellow Dane Gravesen waxed lyrical about Hammers and Celtic target Kvistgaarden when he was being linked with a January and then summer move to Parkhead.
In fact Gravesen has warned Brondby to enjoy Kvistgaarden while they can because it is inevitable he will be snapped up.
Brondby chairman Jan Bech Andersen revealed he rejected offers for Kvistgaarden in the winter window, one of which was rumoured to have been from Celtic.
But while Kvistgaarden, who has earned comparisons to Viktor Gyojeres, remained at Brondby – Andersen admitted he would likely be sold this summer.
And that’s exactly what’s happened as the battle between West Ham and Celtic is settled in shocking style.
Because Potter and Rodgers have got their answer on Kvistgaarden’s choice for his next move.
Danish sensation chooses Norwich for big move
What nobody saw coming was that he would swap the yellow of Brondby for the yellow of Norwich City.
French club Lens made a concrete late move to try and beat West Ham and Celtic to Kvistgaarden.
But according to an exclusive from Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis, the striker has chosen to join Norwich, who finished 13th in the Championship last season.
Denis describes the decision as a shock, not least because Lens felt they were close to pulling off a coup and given they were previously battling the likes of West Ham and Celtic for Kvistgaarden.
Had Lens missed out to the Hammers or Bhoys, it would have been understandable. But a move to Norwich has raised eyebrows.
There has been no official confirmation of the move from Norwich or Brondby as yet.
So there may still be some hope for West Ham and Celtic to land Kvistgaarden yet.
To highlight just how astonishing that transfer to Norwich would be, the player is said to be in West Ham’s top three striker transfer targets for this summer – behind Evann Guessand and Emanuel Emegha.
Although, with respect, if he does join Norwich it suggests the interest from West Ham and Celtic may not have been as serious as has been reported.
However, it may explain why West Ham have now launched a move for a striker who starred at the Euro Under 21 tournament recently.