Will Eboue Kouassi leave Celtic before Monday’s transfer deadline?

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Celtic midfielder Eboue Kouassi came to the club with a bit of fanfare in January 2017.

Our only winter signing during the ‘Invincibles’ season, he arrived for a reported fee of £2.8m – a not insignificant sum.

Brendan Rodgers later appeased fans surprised that we were spending that kind of money on a teenager with grandiose statements about his ability.

As quoted by The Herald, Rodgers said at the time: “He is one of those young players I look at with the same feeling I had as when I saw a young Coutinho or a young Sterling.

“This boy has that. Within 10 seconds you see his talent.”

Nine appearances later, after nearly a full calendar year, Rodgers’ hyping of Kouassi would not lessen. He would go on to claim in January 2018 that the player could perform a Scott Brown role at the club (The Daily Record).

His situation is curious because it could be argued that we currently need a defensive midfielder to push the captain. Back-up and competition for the veteran could really help him find his best form.

What’s his current status?

Through no fault of his own he was entirely missing for a large chunk of last season after an unfortunate ACL injury.

However, he’s returned to training, with Neil Lennon even mentioning him last month.

He’s since been completely absence from the first-team and hasn’t featured for reserve or development sides either. His last appearance came in October of last year against Hearts.

The obvious conclusion is that he doesn’t have much of a future at the club.

It was reported by The Daily Record in July that Greek outfit Panathinaikos were keen on a move for the player – either on loan or on a permanent basis.

Nothing firm has been reported since, but entering the final few days of the transfer window things could liven up again.

There’s every chance we’ve seen the last of him in a Celtic shirt.

After the millions, the hype and just 22 appearances, he’ll probably end up just another failed absentee from the Rodgers era, despite our need in his position.