No matter how impeccable Celtic have been in their domestic campaign and winning every possible silverware in Scotland, Brendan Rodgers will always be wary of the fact that sooner or later he has to part ways with his star man Moussa Dembele. And with the FIFA World Cup arriving next year, it would rather be sooner.
Following last season’s result, it is pretty much established that Celtic are miles ahead of the others competing in Scottish Premiership. Even if they remain unsuccessful in repeating the ‘Invincible’ feat next season, the Hoops are more than likely to win it all in the country.
Which leaves Champions League as the only competitive tournament left for them. And in his managerial career, Brendan Rodgers is yet to make any mark whatsoever in the elite competition. Getting closer to it remains the only aim for the 44-year-old now and he would look for talents this summer, who could fit in Celtic’s financial structure and can replace Dembele potentially.
One such emerging prospect is definitely Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo. The starlet is having a brilliant time currently in England’s Under 20 World Cup campaign. He was the star man in England’s comeback win over Italy in the semifinals. The Hempstead-born forward came off the bench only after half-time, when the Three Lions were trailing to Italy’s early opener.
He starred in the game with two assists for Liverpool’s latest recruit Dominic Solanke and Everton’s Ademola Lookman, as England won the game 3-1. However, his way until here wasn’t easy. The 19-year-old had a pretty underwhelming start to the previous campaign. A back injury had kept him out till November, as he refused to rest between Liverpool’s pre-season tour after returning from England Under 19 squad’s European Championship trip to Germany.
His return was slow and was left to the Under 23s for fitness issue, but he persevered and his moment finally came in the underage side’s 2-1 win against Everton. He has definitely attracted a lot of attention of late with former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez also willing to sign him, which we believe could be a loan move.
The last time Newcastle tried signing him was in January during the winter transfer window, but the Reds downright rejected him. If Klopp still doesn’t see him in his plans next season, he could be loaned off for sure. A winger by nature, Ojo is unlikely to get the regular nod ahead of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino.
Celtic, on the other hand, could give him the thing he desperately needs now; first team action. Being in the Reds’ camp for long, Rodgers share a good relation with the former MK Dons player and could nurture him well.
