Recently reports (Daily Record) indicate that Celtic were interested in signing Ligue 2 striker Silas Wamangituka. The reports also conveyed that Neil Lennon himself went to see him in action last Monday for Paris FC against Valenciennes. The game ended in a goalless draw.
However, recently Lennon rebuffed those rumours and made it clear that he wasn’t there to see Wamangituka play. He did indicate that he was looking at certain players. Lennon also indicated that the club would sign a striker in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The interim manager was recently asked about his scouting mission and said (Daily Record), ”It wasn’t him. But we are looking at players. And centre-forward is a position I would look at.”
Wamangituka was even scouted by the likes of Barcelona and Liverpool recently. The 19-year-old is said to be valued at £4.5m. The forward has managed nine goals in 27 Ligue 2 appearances so far, and now it’s clear that Celtic are not in the race to sign him.
Is Lennon taking the right call here?
Wamagituka is still an unknown quantity, and his numbers in Ligue 2 isn’t exactly outstanding. Plus £4.5m looks a steep sum to us. He might have the potential to become a top striker in a few years, but Celtic cannot afford to take the gamble worth £4.5m.
Some might think the fact that heavyweight clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona are showing an interest in him might suggest that he can be a game changer in the future. However, given the financial gulf between the two European heavyweights and Celtic, the Bhoys cannot afford to take a gamble on the 19-year-old. For Liverpool and Barcelona £4.5m will be like pocket change.
The 19-year-old can play as a targetman as he stands in at 6ft2 and has that strength to outmuscle defenders. However, he still needs to prove himself at the top level before he can be termed as a proper talent. Celtic recently signed Vakoun Isouf Bayo who is in a similar mould.
The forward has struggled to get into the match day squads since he was signed in January and it seems clear that he is not ready yet to take on the challenges of the Premiership. He could be sent on loan in the summer as he looks unlikely to get game time at Parkhead. Celtic cannot afford to have another situation like that, and we feel that Lennon is right in pulling out of the race for this £4.5m rated striker.
