Celtic have reportedly made their final bid for Vakoun Issouf Bayo,
According to the Daily Star, the Hoops are ready to table a final £2million bid for the front-man.
Bayo has managed 18 goals in 24 appearances at Dunajska Streda, and is ready to move on. The player is apparently keen on the deal, but as is expected, Celtic are struggling to match their valuation.
Streda want just over the £2m offered, but Celtic are at it again with the penny-pinching. Despite Streda not wanting any less than £2.3million, Celtic appear to not want to go over their final offer.
You have to start asking yourself why. This is a player who Celtic could sign today if they wanted him enough. Bayo is desperate to make the move to Glasgow, whilst his club are being easy enough to deal with.
You would’ve hoped that Celtic learned their lesson from the summer. The same kind of saga happened with John McGinn. Celtic refused to match Hibs’ valuation of the player. Ultimately, the club lost out on him to Championship side Aston Villa.
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The Hoops have already sealed one deal today – a loan agreement for West Brom’s Oliver Burke. Another signing that takes nothing from the transfer budget.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo has other suitors
As Parma and Rapid Vienna reportedly remain interested in his services, Celtic should move now. It appears that the Hoops are the only club to make a formal offer. If Brendan Rodgers wants Bayo, however, then the club need to back him this time and sign him up for the £2.3m that Streda are demanding.
Make no mistake, Rangers are making serious moves in this window. They’ll come out a lot stronger than they went in. Therefore, the Hoops have to sign up Rodgers’ targets at all costs, without worrying about a few extra grand.
Regardless of whether you rate Bayo or not, Rodgers does. It’s the same scenario as the McGinn deal, and Celtic simply have to make sure the manager gets who he wants.
Rodgers must be close to the end of his patience with this Celtic board. He’s already come out and criticised them in the past for failing to sign up his priorities.
If the club therefore fail to do so once again due to an extra £300k, you have to wonder how much more Rodgers will take.
For all we know, Streda may very well accept the £2million, but it’s disappointing to see Celtic at this nonsense again.
It’s a massive window, and penny-pinching simply shouldn’t be anywhere near the top of the priorities.