Brendan Rodgers opens up on what Vakoun Issouf Bayo will bring to Celtic

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Brendan Rodgers has opened up on what Vakoun Issouf Bayo will bring to Celtic in the coming years.

The Hoops signed Bayo from Dunajska Streda for a fee reportedly around £2million. The Ivorian made his debut at Rugby Park last Sunday – nearly a full month after signing for the Hoops.

Yet, despite that, we didn’t seem to get much of a glimpse of him. Bayo played the final few minutes of the 1-0 win, and was constantly in the box waiting for service.

John Kennedy opened up last month about the physical presence he gives Celtic. And following on from that, Rodgers expanded more in the Celtic View (Wednesday 20th February, page 7) on what Bayo will add.

“He likes to get in the box and attack the ball. He’s an out-and-out striker, whereas some of our other strikers like to roam and link the game up.

“He’s one that plays the game simple outside the box, but when it’s in wide areas he’s in the box looking to score.

“He’s a young player still settling in. January to the summer is about adapting to our life in our game and hopefully in the years to come the club will see the benefit of that.”

Should we not expect much from Bayo this season?

By the sounds of it, Bayo isn’t under much pressure this season. Rodgers seems to be willing to let him adjust to life in Scotland at his own pace between now and the end of the campaign.

But this doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing plenty of him. On situations like Sunday when we’re desperately chasing a goal, he’s a different option.

He clearly plays the game much differently to the likes of Timothy Weah, Odsonne Edouard, and Oliver Burke. Bayo apparently isn’t one for linking the play or doing much work outside the box at all.

If that is indeed the case, then he needs to be a clinical finisher. His track record proves that he is just that, however. After all, Bayo slammed home 18 goals in 23 games for Streda this season.

Adding some genuine physicality and aerial threat is a welcome boost too. After all, Filip Benkovic is the only player to score directly from a corner this season. Here’s hoping that changes with Bayo in the mix.