Celtic are reportedly leading the chase for Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj ahead of a potential summer move.
The £1.2 million forward has emerged as one of League One’s most prolific number nines this season, and his form is now attracting serious attention from Parkhead.
According to reports, Celtic believe they are well placed to land the 24-year-old when the transfer window opens, with the Scottish champions viewing him as a value addition despite his rising stock. Tolaj has struck 18 league goals this term, forming a productive partnership at Home Park that has propelled Argyle into the promotion conversation.
Signed by Plymouth Argyle in August 2025 after a £1.2 million release clause was triggered in his Port Vale contract, Tolaj has continued a sharp upward trajectory that began in non-league football just two seasons ago. The Swiss under-19 international arrived in Devon on a four-year deal and wasted little time justifying the investment, scoring twice in an EFL Trophy tie before opening his League One account days later.
His campaign has included a hat trick at Doncaster and a recent brace in a 5-2 victory over Cardiff City, underlining his ability to influence high-profile fixtures. Across all competitions for Argyle this season, he has 19 goals in 32 appearances, an impressive return for a player adjusting to a higher division.
Taken the long road
Tolaj’s route to this point has been anything but straightforward. A former academy player at Brighton & Hove Albion, he never made a senior appearance for the Seagulls despite loan spells at Cambridge United, Salford City and Dundee. It was his 25-goal haul in all competitions for Aldershot Town during the 2023-24 campaign that reignited his career, earning him a move back into the Football League.
At Port Vale, he flourished again, finishing as top scorer and helping secure promotion from League Two. Individual recognition followed, including a League Two Player of the Month award in April 2025, before Argyle moved decisively to secure his signature.
Stylistically, Tolaj profiles as a traditional number nine. Standing at 1.83 metres, he combines physical presence with sharp movement inside the penalty area and a powerful left foot. He is capable of leading the line alone but has also shown he can thrive in a strike partnership, linking play effectively while remaining a constant goal threat.
For Celtic, the attraction is clear. A striker entering his prime, already proven across multiple tiers of English football and available for a fee that may still look modest given his output. With competition expected from English clubs, the coming months could determine whether Tolaj’s rapid rise takes him to Glasgow next season.
