The 28-year-old scored twice for Egypt as they enjoyed one of their best-ever World Cup campaigns, finding the net against Belgium in the group stage before adding another in the last-32 win over Australia. Those performances have apparently persuaded Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to run the rule over the midfielder in person this summer, according to Celts Are Here.
Newly promoted Coventry City have also been credited with interest in the Egyptian international, though reports elsewhere suggest competition could extend further still, with several Premier League and Saudi clubs also said to be monitoring his situation as his profile continues to grow.
Ashour's spell in Denmark was brief and largely unsuccessful, lasting only half a season and yielding just seven appearances before he returned to Egypt. That contrasts sharply with his career at Al Ahly, where he has gone on to make 105 appearances, scoring 32 goals and adding 25 assists, numbers that underline how much he has developed since his difficult time in Scandinavia. He remains under contract in Cairo until 2028, and any deal is expected to require an offer in the region of £4m to tempt Al Ahly into a sale.
Any move for Ashour would represent a departure from Celtic's usual transfer strategy of targeting younger players with sell-on value, given his age and the fact he is already an established performer rather than a developing prospect.
His versatility, having featured across midfield and even at right-back for Egypt over the years, only adds to his appeal for a club still shaping its squad for both domestic and European competition. Whether Celtic or Coventry can turn their interest into a firm offer remains to be seen, but his history in Europe means he would arrive already familiar with adapting to life outside Egypt.