Celtic are on the lookout for reinforcements this January window and a new face has come to the fore.
Brendan Rodgers made it clear he wants attacking signings in this month with the Hoops manager potentially after two wingers as well as a striker.
Mathias Kvistgaarden has been scouted by Celtic as recently as November while Aston Villa’s Louie Barry is also on the Celts’ radar.
Now it’s an attacker from Ligue 1 who has been namechecked in the French press as a possible option for Rodgers who likes having three strikers to choose from.
According to reports in Foot Mercato, Mohamed Bayo is “of interest” to the Scottish champions as they seek firepower this January in a bid to secure the Premiership title.
Celtic have been linked with ex-West Ham target Mohamed Bayo
Celts also want to compete in the Champions League knockout playoffs if they can beat Young Boys or Aston Villa.
The French publication claims Celtic are keen as well as a number of clubs around Europe including other Ligue 1 sides Metz and Montpellier as well as Las Palmas in Spain and Como in Serie A who are also closing in on Alex Valle.
Former West Ham target Bayo is seemingly looking for an exit from his current club as his game time this season has been limited under manager Bruno Génésio.
The Guinea international has managed only two goals and three assists from 16 appearances, albeit the vast majority of those have been cameos from the bench.
His most prolific season came in 2020/21 where he beat Olivier Giroud’s Ligue 2 record as he smashed in 22 goals and six assists before he hit 12 Ligue 1 goals the following year.
Manager Génésio recently insisted Lille are “counting on” Bayo which could throw a spanner in the works for the player who is contracted until 2027.
What manager Bruno Génésio has said about Bayo’s Lille future
He said: “Momo is a player I am counting on. (…) In the last match, he knows why he was not in the squad. But I am someone who is empathetic.
“He is not excluded from the squad, neither for reasons of departure nor for other things. He will certainly be in the squad this evening for the trip to Auxerre.
“He is still part of the squad, still part of a solution if necessary to take over from Jonathan David.
“He knows what he has to do to make it happen like this. We talked about it together, what we said to each other stays between us. He also knows that I am counting on him, which is the most important thing.”
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