According to the Daily Star, Celtic are preparing a bid of £1.75million for striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo.
The unknown quantity has scored 14 goals in 25 appearances this season for Slovakian outfit DAC. He only signed for the club in March after previously being with Etoile de Sahel of Tunisia.
Not much is known about the young forward. He’s yet to be capped by the Ivory Coast at senior level. Instead, he’s played at under-23 level as he awaits his big break with the senior side.
DAC currently sit second in the Slovakian Premier League. Bayo’s side sit eight points behind league-leaders Slovan Bratislava.
At his previous club Etoile de Sahel in Tunisia, he made just 18 appearances. During that period he only managed four goals and four assists. Therefore, it’s clear that Bayo has seriously improved this season with DAC.
It’s clear that the Celtic scouts have been impressed by what they’ve seen of Bayo. Whether he joins what’s certain to be the signing of Timothy Weah remains to be seen.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
Timothy Weah set to become a Celt soon
Brendan Rodgers is still looking to wrap up the signing of Weah. The PSG kid posted a message on social media yesterday stating he was watching the Old Firm game. Here’s hoping that didn’t put him off either.
Whether this is pure speculation or not regarding Bayo remains to be seen. The truth is, however, that supporters won’t be overly-enamored by going for such an unknown talent.
With Rangers breathing down the club’s neck once again, a big January is essential. Unless Bayo was brought in as a “one for the future” kind of deal, this would be seriously underwhelming.
Celtic are still looking to bring in striking reinforcements next month. Added to that, the club are also looking for a right-back and are likely looking at strengthening further positions.
Big money, however, needs to be spent on the front-line. If it was ever evident, yesterday saw young Mikey Johnston start at Ibrox. That should never have been the case, but it also highlighted how light Celtic are in that area.
Any move for Bayo would be fine, so long as bigger names are still to come.