Celtic Target Matteo Cancellieri Amid West Ham Interest Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Celtic are reportedly interested in Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri as they look to bolster their attacking options following the sale of Daizen Maeda and the imminent departure of Nicolas Kühn.
• Multiple outlets, including Gazzetta Regionale, Corriere dello Sport and InsideFutbol, suggest Celtic have identified Cancellieri, though no formal bid or advanced negotiations have been confirmed.
• The 24-year-old Italian international is valued at between €12–15 million (£10–13 million), with his contract at Lazio running until June 2027.
• West Ham United are also monitoring Cancellieri, but Celtic are said to be “likely to step up their interest” in the coming days.
• Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and sporting director Nick Hammond are said to be assessing wide attacking options, with Cancellieri considered alongside other targets such as Haissem Hassan and Gustav Isaksen.
• Lazio are reportedly open to offers for several players this summer, though the Cancellieri situation is described as “cold” at present.

Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) August 3, 2026 – Celtic have emerged as serious admirers of Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri as they seek to strengthen their forward line following the sales of Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town and the pending move of Nicolas Kühn to Como, according to multiple reports from Italy and the UK.

As reported by Lorenzo Canicchio of Gazzetta Regionale, Celtic “appreciate” both Cancellieri and his Lazio teammate Gustav Isaksen, with the Italian club said to be “open to offers” for players across their squad this summer. However, Canicchio and other Italian journalists stress that there is “no suggestion” Celtic have opened formal talks, submitted an offer or reached any agreement for either attacker at this stage.

Corriere dello Sport, cited by TuttoMercatoWeb, states that Celtic are “following with interest” the 24-year-old, who is valued by Lazio at around €15 million (£13 million). The same outlet notes that Torino, Fiorentina and Olympiakos have also been linked with Cancellieri in recent months, though no concrete bids have materialised.

InsideFutbol, via ExWHUEmployee (a trusted West Ham source), reports that Celtic are “likely to step up their interest” in Cancellieri in the coming days, potentially forcing West Ham to act if they remain keen on the player. West Ham’s interest is said to have cooled slightly after confirming Jarrod Bowen will stay at the London Stadium, but the Hammers remain in the race should a “very good deal” become available.

Who is Matteo Cancellieri and what is his current situation at Lazio?

Matteo Cancellieri, born 12 February 2002, is an Italian left winger who wears the number 22 shirt for Lazio. He joined the Rome-based club in August 2023 after spells with Hellas Verona, Empoli and Parma, and made 30 Serie A appearances last season, scoring four goals.

Transfermarkt lists his current market value at approximately €7 million (£6 million), though Italian media suggest Lazio’s asking price is closer to €12–15 million given his age, international pedigree and contract length. Cancellieri’s deal with Lazio runs until June 2027, giving the club leverage in negotiations, but also creating a potential opportunity for buying clubs if Lazio decide to cash in a year early.

What has Celtic’s management said about transfer activity this window?

Celtic sporting director Nick Hammond has pushed back against speculation that deals are already agreed for targets, insisting the club has rejected all offers received so far for financial and sporting reasons. Speaking to The Sun, Hammond said:

“That’s nonsense. I have no idea where this stuff comes from… We have received offers for a few players. That’s nothing unusual… Ultimately, we decide what is of interest to us. And everything that came in was, from a financial standpoint, of no interest.”

Manager Martin O’Neill is said to be keen to bolster Celtic’s attacking options after criticism from supporters over last summer’s transfer activity, when the club missed out on multiple targets. The board is understood to be balancing ambition with fiscal prudence, with a squad valuation formula used internally to assess whether a transfer “makes sense both financially and in sporting terms”.

How does Cancellieri fit into Celtic’s broader transfer strategy?

Celtic’s interest in Cancellieri comes as part of a wider search for wide attacking depth following Maeda’s £10 million sale to Ipswich and Kühn’s expected move to Como for a reported fee “over five times” the £3 million Celtic paid to sign him. The club is also linked with Haissem Hassan, though Cancellieri is viewed as a viable alternative should that deal stall.

According to The Celtic Bhoys, Cancellieri “could prove to be an alternative option to Haissem Hassan”, with the Hoops needing at least one new winger this summer. OneFootball adds that Cancellieri “would be a terrific signing, but so would Hassan… But it’s realistically one or the other”, suggesting Celtic may prioritise one marquee wide addition rather than both.

What is the background of this particular development?

Celtic’s pursuit of Cancellieri must be understood against the backdrop of a turbulent 2025–26 season, in which the club faced scrutiny for failing to secure key targets during the summer and winter windows. The sales of Maeda and Kühn—two of the team’s most direct wide threats—have left a noticeable gap in pace, dribbling and goal contribution from the flanks, prompting the board to act more decisively in 2026.

Lazio, meanwhile, are in a squad-rebuilding phase under coach Marco Baroni, with the club “listening to offers for all” players as they seek to generate funds for incoming midfield and defensive reinforcements. Cancellieri, who has struggled to cement a starting role amid competition from Mattia Zaccagni, Loum Tchaouna and others, fits the profile of a saleable asset who could command a significant fee while freeing up squad space.

The timing of Celtic’s interest—late July, just weeks before the Scottish Premiership season kicks off and Champions League qualifiers loom—reflects the urgency to finalise at least one high-impact attacking signing before competitive fixtures begin.

What is the prediction for how this development could affect Celtic supporters and the squad?

If Celtic secure Cancellieri, supporters can expect a technically gifted, versatile winger capable of playing on either flank or as a secondary striker, adding depth and competition to a forward line that looked thin after Maeda and Kühn’s exits. His age (24), Serie A experience and Italian international status suggest he could adapt quickly to the demands of Scottish football and European competition, provided the fee and wages fit within Celtic’s internal valuation model.

For the squad, Cancellieri’s arrival would signal a shift toward a more fluid, rotation-based attacking system under O’Neill, with multiple options to deploy in wide areas depending on opponent and fixture congestion. However, if the deal drags on or collapses, fans may grow frustrated at another summer of “admiration without action”, particularly if rivals such as Rangers or Aberdeen strengthen more decisively.

Ultimately, the Cancellieri story remains one of “interest” rather than “agreement”, and Celtic’s next moves—whether to submit a bid, walk away, or pivot to another target—will define whether this becomes a genuine transfer or another entry in the “season of whispers” that has characterised recent windows.