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da doce： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Celtic are interested in signing Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga this summer, according to website Football Insider.
What’s the story?
So far Celtic’s signings this summer have been focused on the midfield and defensive areas, with three arriving at Celtic Park.
However, Football Insider report that Neil Lennon is keen to bolster his attacking options and Assombalonga is high on the Hoops boss’ transfer wanted list.
The website reckon that Lennon is hoping to “take the strain off” first-choice striker Odsonne Edouard and is now plotting a move to sign the Boro man.
The DR Congo international has a market value of £9m according to Transfermarkt, meaning he is unlikely to arrive in Glasgow on the cheap.
Keith from C’mon the Hoops throws back to a former Celtic and Ireland star in the video below…
Is he needed?
With Leigh Griffiths returning from a hiatus and Vakoun Bayo involved in pre-season action, the Hoops already have two back-up strikers to Edouard and so the addition of Assombalonga would make it very difficult for one of those players to get game time.
Celtic often play with a solitary striker so having four competing for one position doesn’t make a huge amount of sense even when you consider the team can play 60+ games a season.
Griffiths has an exceptional goalscoring record at the club, scoring 104 goals in 203 appearances. Getting rid of him clearly wouldn’t be the best decision.
If Assombalonga arrived, it would almost certainly leave Bayo as the odd man out. He’s player who only joined in January but to date just has one late substitute appearance to his name in competitive action.
Assombalonga is a player who can net 15+ goals a season on a consistent basis, so would push Bayo further down the pecking order even though he’s barely been given a chance.
Ending the 22-year-old’s hopes of making a Celtic impact might be the best way for the club to proceed this summer if they truly are in the market for another striker.