If a recent report from The Scottish Sun is believed to be true, Wilfried Nancy is keen to bring Wessam Abou Ali to Parkhead if/when he is announced as the next Celtic manager. The 48-year-old Frenchman, currently in charge of the Columbus Crew, has been identified as Brendan Rodgers’ long-term successor and is expected to replace Martin O’Neill, who returned to the dugout as an interim boss around a month ago.
Born in Denmark, the 26-year-old Palestinian international progressed through the academy ranks of AaB before breaking into their first team in the Danish Superliga. He then joined Vendsyssel FF on loan in the second division, where he received regular gametime, and eventually completed a €150k transfer to fellow second-tier outfit Silkeborg in the summer of 2020.
The Resurgence Of Abou Ali
However, his performance did not improve at JYSK Park, either in terms of minutes played or overall statistics. He returned to Vendsyssel a year later and made his presence known while spearheading the attack. His impressive scoring form saw him plying his trade in Sweden with IK Sirius in 2023. After 11 goals in 17 games over the next six months, Abou Ali left for the Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly for €1.7m.
The Red Giant grabbed back-to-back league titles during his time in Egypt, but sanctioned a high-profile €6.4m move to Columbus Crew in July ahead of the Club World Cup. The striking ace maintained his excellence in the US, having netted six goals and laid on one assist in eight appearances across competitions so far.
Nancy, who brought Abou Ali to Ohio, rates him highly for his sharpness up top and, therefore, is eyeing a reunion in the upcoming January window. Although the MLS side have him under contract till 2027 (with the option for a further year), Celtic must be well-positioned to meet their monetary demands, particularly after a disastrous summer.
Why Celtic Should Splash The Cash For The Palestinian ‘Number 9’
The Hoops parted ways with Kyogo Furuhashi last winter, followed by Adam Idah in August. Yet they did not bring in any renowned names to replace their goal scorers. Kelechi Iheanacho, roped in on a Bosman, has been underwhelming for years, whereas Shin Yamada and Callum Osmand were tied down but not utilised by Rodgers. The latter impressed under O’Neill but is now ruled out for months with a hamstring strain. Iheanacho is also sidelined due to an injury, thus leaving the champions with young Johnny Kenny and outcast Yamada high up the pitch.
The former Denmark youth international, who switched his allegiance to Palestine last year, has had a remarkable rise from collapsing on the pitch for Vendsyssel to net a perfect hat-trick against FC Porto in the Club World Cup within four years. His resilience and determination could see him return to Europe as a seasoned striker after successful stints across two different continents.
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