Celtic are strongly linked (Daily Record) with a move for Ivory Coast striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo and are looking to launch an improved bid for the 21-year-old striker with the first one being rejected by the Slovakian outfit Dunajska Streda. Clubs like Rapid Wien and Parma have also let their interest known for the striker, and according to Dunajska’s goalkeeping coach Jan Novota, Issouf Bayo would be better off moving to Austria to join heavyweights Rapid Wien.
He was quoted as saying (Evening Times), ”I think Bayo would be a great fit for Rapid and this club would be the right move for him. The Austrian league is obviously stronger than the Slovakian one and I think it would be the perfect match for him. He is a real talent, make no mistake.
”He is physically strong and fast and he’s certainly not at the end of his development. I have got to know him quite well. He has a very good character. He’s not quite the finished product – sometimes he rushes a chance when he approaches the keeper and he’s better in the air than he is on the ground.”
The Hoops faithful and the club hierarchy would be disappointed to know that one of Dunasjka’s coach is acting as a double agent for Rapid Wien and trying to influence the striker’s decision. The Bhoys are in desperate need of a forward and they seem to have already lost the battle to sign Jermain Defoe, who is expected to join Rangers now.
It is being reported (Daily Record) that the Slovakian outfit would want somewhere around £2.3m and Celtic are going to come up with a new bid of £2m next. Celtic might have to probably outbid the Austrian heavyweights here to gain the signature of Issouf Bayo.
The Ivory Coast u-23 international has been firing on all cylinders in the Slovakian league, and he is one of the primary reasons why his side are challenging league leaders Slovan Bratislava. The 21-year-old has managed 18 goals and seven assists in 23 games, which brings his goal contribution to more than one a game.
Celtic only have Odsonne Edouard as their major strike option, and they also need to compete in the Europa League in the coming month. We are still not sure when Leigh Griffiths would be back playing football, and so the Hoops might need to sign as many as two strikers this month.
They definitely seem keen on Issouf Bayo, but the latest reports from the Dunajska camp might influence the striker’s decision in the next few days. Either way, we believe it would be a blow for Rodgers if he fails to land Bayo in the end. In such a situation Celtic should go all the way and get their man even if it means paying £300,000 more than what they want to at this moment.
