The Celtic Bhoys
Fansided

Celtic set to sell out of favour striker to French side

By Sean Clifford

Celtic FC's Irish head coach Neil Lennon (L), wearing a protective face mask, looks on during the friendly football match Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Glasgow Celtic FC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on July 21, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Celtic FC's Irish head coach Neil Lennon (L), wearing a protective face mask, looks on during the friendly football match Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Glasgow Celtic FC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on July 21, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

A Celtic striker could be on the move as rumours of his exit swirl at a head-spinning pace as the new season has gotten underway.

According to the Glasgow Times, Celtic striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo is close to a transfer to French Ligue 2 side Toulouse. Relegated from France’s top-flight, due to the abrupt conclusion of the 19/20 season attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, Les Violets have earmarked the Ivorian to bolster their offensive ranks going into their 2020/21 campaign.

Neil Lennon is rumoured to be seeking to offload the forward, with reports at La Depeche du Midi implying that Bayo could depart on a permanent agreement as opposed to on loan as initially anticipated. Interest in the former Dunajská Streda player is gathering pace, with league rivals St Mirren also launching talks over a potential loan swoop for the 23 year-old as disclosed by BBC Sport.

Brought into Celtic Park for £2.1 million, the cultured attacker has struggled to make an impression in the Hoops. In 2019/20, Bayo featured 16 times for the Bhoys in all competitions; mustering one solitary strike.

Omitted from the Celts pre-season tour of France, alongside being well behind peers Odsonne Edouard, Patryk Klimala and Leigh Griffiths in the pecking order. With the Glasgow side continuing to be accredited with an attraction towards respective centre-forwards Ivan Toney and Albian Ajeti. Could this be the final nail in the coffin for the Ivory Coast cap?

Recouping some of the outlay initially paid for the target man, could be a positive development for those in the Celtic board room. Doubtlessly, being able to subtract wage expenditure predictably means there is additional resource to pursue transfer targets such as those aforementioned.

Celtic will have to be pro-active in assuring they have adequate depth going into such an imperative part of the clubs history, especially if there is movement towards the exit door.

Next. Another Celtic player is very close to transfer exit. dark