Celtic’s hopes of landing top transfer target Kvistgaarden fade as West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt enter race for free-scoring Danish forward

Celtic will face stiff competition from West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt to sign top transfer target Mathias Kvistgaarden this summer.

The Parkhead club are long-term admirers of the in-demand Brondby striker, who fired 23 goals in all competitions this season for the Danish club.

Celtic enquired about Kvistgaarden’s availability back in January and are continuing to weigh up a summer move for the 23-year-old front man.

Having recently won his first call-up to the senior Danish national team, it is thought that Kvistgaarden could command a fee in excess of £12million.

Celtic would have no issue breaking their transfer record in order to sign him, although fitting him into their existing wage structure may be more of a challenge.

But, with Frankfurt also long-term admirers of Kvistgaarden, West Ham have now entered the race to sign one of the most sought-after young strikers in Europe.

Hammers boss Graham Potter wants to revamp his forward line after a disappointing Premier League campaign saw the club finish 14th in the table.

It is understood that the Londoners have been tracking Kvistgaarden since the turn of the year and are could now be set to firm up their interest with a bid over the coming weeks.

Kvistgaarden appeared to say farewell to the Brondby fans following the conclusion of their season last weekend.

Speaking after the match, Brondby director of football Benjamin Schmedes confirmed that no bids have yet been received but that he understands why there is such demand for the player.

‘We will look at it when there is something on the table and we can talk about it,’ said Schmedes. ‘We don’t have that right now, so we are not saying goodbye to him yet.

‘We will sit down and look at the season, and then we will see what the transfer window brings. That applies to Mathias and all the other players.

‘He is an interesting player for the five major leagues. It is not without reason that he was named Player of the Year.

‘There are many things that bigger clubs in the five major leagues could be interested in. I will answer the phone when they call, and then we will see.’

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Scott Bain has left Celtic after seven years at the club.

The former Dundee player made his debut in a 3-2 victory at Ibrox in March 2018 and made 78 appearances in all.

The 33-year-old departs with 14 major winners’ medals and told the club’s official website: ‘I am really sad, of course, to be leaving the club but I am so thankful, too, for everything the club has given me.

‘I have enjoyed my time at Celtic massively and it has been a huge honour to be part of the biggest and best club in the country.’

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers added: ‘Scott has given everything to Celtic and I would like to thank him sincerely for his time at the club.

‘He has been a valued member of the squad and a great team-mate, really liked and respected by us all. Everyone at the club wishes Scott and his family all the very best for the future.’

Celtic have already moved to replace Bain by lining up former youth keeper Ross Doohan as their third choice next season, behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

Doohan, 27, was one of 12 Aberdeen players whose exits from Pittodrie on expiry of contract was confirmed yesterday.

Joining Doohan in departing the Dons are defender Jack MacKenzie, who has been linked with a number of English clubs, and midfielder Jamie McGrath, who has already signed a pre-contract with Hibernian.

Kevin Nisbet, Oday Dabbagh, Jeppe Okkels and Alfie Dorrington have also departed after their loan spells finished, although whether Jimmy Thelin makes another move for any of them remains to be seen.