According to the reports from The Sun on Sunday (13/10; page 63), Celtic were interested in acquiring the signature of Brighton and Hove Albion striker Aaron Connolly on a loan deal back in January. Connolly recently came into the limelight as he scored a brace against Tottenham Hotspur which gave the Seagulls a memorable 3-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.
Graham Potter decided to give Connolly a chance this season, and so far it seems like the young forward is responding to the challenges well. The game against Spurs was his first league start, and it was an occasion to remember for the 19-year-old.
We think that maybe Lennon could have considered making a move for him in January next year. However, his breakthrough campaign might mean that Celtic might have to look elsewhere if they want to bolster their attacking options.
Why Celtic need a striker in January?
The Hoops are particularly short in terms of quality up front. Odsonne Edouard is the apparent first-choice striker, but beyond him, there is a significant drop in quality when it comes to the other alternatives. Leigh Griffiths has struggled with injuries and is past his prime.
It would be interesting to see whether he will get back to his best or not. Vakoun Issouf Bayo is another option which Lennon can choose to call upon, but he is still quite a raw talent and might need some more time to establish himself at Celtic Park.
Would Connolly have been a good option?
The 19-year-old seems like a natural finisher in front of goal as he has those killer instincts in the final third. Connolly’s standout attributes are his pace, positioning and finishing skills. The Republic of Ireland youngster is always looking to make runs between the defenders. He could have been a decent addition as he would have suited Celtic’s playing style well with various playmakers trying to find his runs.
Connolly is still a raw talent, and he might need some more time to perform at his peak. However, the fact that he has broken through in the senior team setup under Graham Potter and replaced Glenn Murray in the first-team, suggests that he is ready for the challenge of the English top flight.
However, following Connolly’s recent heroics, Potter is unlikely to send him away in January. The good thing for Celtic is that they have time to look at other options now. The club should be on the lookout for a striker in January to take some goal scoring burden off Edouard’s shoulders.
