The outbreak of coronavirus has not only jeopardised the conclusive months of the 2019-20 campaign but also put the future of Celtic flop Eboue Kouassi on the line. The 22-year-old Ivorian made a high-profile transfer to Parkhead from Krasnodar three years ago which, however, turned out to be catastrophic due to lack of opportunities and injury woes.
Celtic splashed a fee of around £3m to rope in the midfield prodigy back in January 2017. But he never managed to settle in the new surroundings and struggled against the pace and aggression of the Scottish league. Neither Brendan Rodgers nor Neil Lennon viewed him as a key first-team option as he gained just 22 appearances in all these years before leaving for Genk in winter (on loan) for the remainder of the season.
What’s Next For The Youngster?
Although he was frozen out for 15 months before plying his trade to Belgium, his involvement increased gradually with time despite being handed three starts since joining the Blauw-Wit. Genk had an option to make the move permanent by the end of the current campaign, but the cancellation of the Belgian Pro League (as reported by BBC) has now complicated things further for the Hoops misfit.
Kouassi, nevertheless, is confident of extending his stay in Belgium Limburg despite limited minutes and no major impact.
“When I joined Genk, I was not physically ready, but once I got fit, the manager showed he had faith in me and played me as soon as he could. If it wasn’t for the coronavirus, I would still be in the team. So I don’t see it as a failed loan – I view it as a success.”
Stated the player (as quoted by the Daily Record) who is aiming for more gametime once the game resumes across the globe.
Does He Still Hold A Chance To Resurrect His Celtic Career?
While it is still unclear whether Genk would offer Kouassi a lifeline beyond the pandemic, a return to Celtic is quite unlikely as he is probably not in Lennon’s plan. Also, his contract is set to expire next summer and therefore, the club would look to cash in on the once highly-rated prospect over losing him for nothing.
Having said that, Celtic must explore the market extensively to bring in a deep-lying midfielder. Skipper Scott Brown, 34, is at the twilight of his glittering career and an able replacement is essential for carrying the legacy forward in the forthcoming future. In our opinion, Kouassi is not that replacement and he must be sold this summer.
