As the current season enters its business end, the focus for Brendan Rodgers and his players will be on retaining the league and Scottish Cup titles won last season under Ange Postecoglou. Yet, while the manager will have a laser focus on the job at hand for the remainder of the campaign, the attention of the recruitment department will inevitably turn towards the future and the impending summer transfer window.
Despite the recently confirmed departure of Mark Lawwell from his role as Head of Recruitment, it would be remiss of the club if it was not already planning transfer targets for the summer. While traditional wisdom advises caution against making hasty signings based solely on international tournament performances, the upcoming European Championships in Germany could provide the club with its last opportunity to run the rule over pre-identified targets.
Given Celtic’s strategy of buying young, low-cost talents from undervalued markets to sell on at a profit, Hungary, one of Scotland’s opponents, makes for a fascinating squad to identify potential signing targets.
With that in mind, let's delve into the profiles of three under-the-radar Hungarian talents who could be in the sights of Celtic’s scouting department. For obvious reasons, the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Milos Kerkez, and Rolland Sallai have been excluded from consideration.
Barnabás Varga
At 29 years of age, Varga does not fall into the usual age category for Celtic signings. Over the past decade, the average age of new signings has been around the 23 years of age mark. However, given Varga’s prolific record in front of goal in recent seasons, an exception should be made for the nine-times-capped attacker.
Physically strong yet agile and mobile, Varga is capable of both leading the line as a target man while also being comfortable working the channels and linking play with his fellow attackers.
After spending his formative years in the lower leagues of Austrian football, Varga began his rise to the top during the 2020/21 season where his goals fired Gyirmot to an unlikely promotion to the Hungarian NB1. His goal-scoring exploits continued in the top flight, hitting 39 goals across the next two seasons for Gyirmot and Paks before earning a summer transfer to Ferencvaros for €800,000.
A return of 27 goals in 31 games, a rate of 1 goal every 76 minutes, this season across all
competitions – including 4 in a single game against Ujpest – makes Varga one of the hottest goal-scoring properties in Europe.
Celtic may have missed the boat on signing him last summer, but a move in the region of €2 million this summer could see Celtic land a striker in the mould that Rodgers favours.
Krisztofer Horváth
Horváth, 22, has long been touted as one of Hungary’s big hopes and heir to Balazs Dzsudzsak as a creative force for the Nemzeti Tizenegy. Currently in his second spell on loan from Torino at high-flying Kecskemét, Horváth is finally realising his undeniable talent.
Normally deployed in the #10 role, Horváth is equally comfortable playing on the left of a front three or as a withdrawn second striker. With excellent close control and ball-striking ability, the young forward has provided 17 goal contributions this season (10 goals, 7 assists) at club level.
Although not considered a starter for the national team, his consistent form with Kecskemét has forced Horváth into Marco Rossi’s plans, making his debut against Czech Republic in September 2023.
While highly regarded by his parent club Torino, Horváth’s future with the Italian club is by no means secured and an opportunity to link up with a club like Celtic is one the young Hungarian would find hard to refuse. A fee of around €1 million with add-ons should be enough to lure Horváth to Celtic Park.
Botond Balogh
Like Horváth, Balogh is contracted to an Italian club, Parma. Unlike Horváth, centre-back Balogh is considered a first-team player for his parent club.
At 21, Balogh has made 41 appearances for Parma, the majority coming in Serie B, and 3
appearances for the national team as he looks to force his way past Willi Orbán and Attila Szalai at the heart of the defence.
Strong and uncompromising in the tackle, dominant in the air, and composed with the ball at his feet, Balogh has the attributes to become a complete defender. An education in Italy will only enhance his ability to read the game and assist Balogh in his continued improvements as a player.
Balogh has already caught the eye of scouts in Italy’s top-flight and with finding a consistent partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers a must for next season, the young Parma man could fit the bill for around €3-5 million.
With Celtic’s recent history of seeking undervalued talents with growth potential, Varga, Horváth, and Balogh present intriguing options for the club's scouting department. Any interest Celtic has in these players remains to be seen, but the talent is out there and within range if the club is prepared to look.
Kevin McCluskie // @KevinMcCluskie1