According to the latest reports from the Daily Record, Celtic are interested in signing Paris FC striker Silas Wamangituka. The 19-year-old currently plies his trade in the Ligue 2, and it is believed that the forward can cost £4.5m.
The report also adds that Neil Lennon was in France to watch the striker in action on Monday against his side’s 0-0 draw with Valenciennes. Report from the Scottish Sun meanwhile mentions that Barcelona and Liverpool have watched the striker in recent months.
With Lennon travelling to France to see Wamangituke in action, we can be more or less certain now that he would be handed the permanent job in the summer as he is already involved in recruiting players for the summer. The striker has managed nine goals in 27 appearances in Ligue 2 this season.
Does Celtic need a striker?
Celtic are likely to lose the services of Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah in the summer as their loan spell is set to expire. Odsonne Edouard was Celtic’s big summer signing last year, but the Frenchman has turned out to be injury prone which saw him miss quite a few games. Leigh Griffiths should be back available for the next season, but it remains to be seen how he would go about his business after his off-field issues. Therefore Celtic are definitely right in looking for a striker in the summer.
However, there is one name who has been forgotten, and that is Vakoun Issouf Bayo. The striker joined the club in January from Dunajská Streda, a top division side from the Slovakian league. The fact that he has been nowhere near the first team suggest that he is a bit off the pace and he could be sent on loan in the summer as Celtic are looking to sign a new striker.
What will Wamangituka add to the table?
The young forward stands in at 6ft 2 inches and is a robust and powerful striker. The 19-year-old can play the role of a targetman to perfection as he can hold up play well. His goalscoring record in Ligue 2 is not too eye-catchy, but there is definitely a huge potential in him as Liverpool and Barcelona have also been monitoring his situation.
Should Celtic go for him?
However, we feel £4.5m for an unproven striker could be a bit too much. A club like Liverpool and Barcelona can take a gamble with such an amount, but Celtic need to spend money wisely. Issouf Bayo was also having a terrific season in Slovakia, but he is nowhere near the first team currently. Celtic cannot afford to have another situation like that by signing Wamangituka for over £4 million.
