If a recent report from The Scottish Sun is believed to be true, Celtic have received a major blow in pursuit of Jocelin Ta Bi. Turkish outfit Trabzonspor have tabled a £2.5m bid for the Maccabi Netanya winger, and are also ready to pay a compensation fee to Hapoel Petah Tikva, the fellow Israeli side, who he joined in the summer of 2024 on a two-year loan.
Why Celtic Are Chasing The Youngster
The Hoops’ interest surfaced a few days ago when The Daily Record labelled the Scottish champions as the frontrunners, with Gent also keeping close tabs on the 20-year-old Ivorian. He was pivotal to Hapoel Petah Tikva’s top-flight promotion last season, netting five times and assisting thrice in 27 league appearances, and has impressed so far in the Israeli Premier League with two goals and assists each in 12 outings before suffering an ankle injury [stats via Transfermarket].
Although Celtic asked for a full medical report to understand the extent of his injury, the youngster is expected to return to action within weeks. They scouted him extensively over the past few months, but could now lose the race to Trabzonspor, who have shown more intent by submitting an offer.
Primarily left-footed, Ta Bi prefers to operate from the right as an inverted winger. He loves to cut inside with his pace and flair, and has showcased his ability to dribble past the defenders. His ceiling is quite high, even though the attacking prodigy has to work on his decision-making and physical traits to attune to the aggression and demands of Scottish football.
Why Ta Bi Could Make A Difference In Nancy’s System
Celtic were going strong under interim boss Martin O’Neill, but the appointment of Wilfried Nancy has so far backfired, with the Frenchman suffering six defeats in eight games since replacing the veteran Northern Irishman. He has yet to put his brand of play into practice, as the players, not familiar with a 3-4-2-1 setup, have failed to adapt to his proactive, possession-based ‘total football’.
While the catastrophic run has jeopardised Celtic’s title defence, the management must back the manager with resources who would fit in his system. The wingbacks play a crucial role in Nancy’s formation, and the club are heavily-reliant on Yang Hyun-Jun down the right, with Alistair Johnston injured.
Ta Bi could be moulded into what Nancy needs to make his football tick; however, the reports circling Ignacio Laquintana and Josh Mulligan suggest that the club have drafted a list of targets for the January window.
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