Go for it Rodgers – Celtic must splash the cash to sign this 11-goal beast attacker this summer

As per reports from the Scottish Daily Record, champions Celtic are in involved in the pursuit of Swansea City striker Jordan Ayew.

The 26-year-old Ghanaian forward was one of the Swans’ better players in the 2017/18 campaign, which saw them get relegated from the Premier League, following which he is widely expected to depart. Reportedly, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are keen on snapping him up this summer.

Ayew has been plying his trade in England since 2015 when he joined Aston Villa from French side FC Lorient. Having spent 18 months at the Villa Park, during which he managed 10 goals and 5 assists from 58 appearances, the attacker moved to Swansea in January 2017.

The 26-year-old failed to make much of an impact in the first six months of his stint with the Welsh club but emerged as a key player for the team in the 2017/18 campaign. Ayew finished the season with 11 goals from 44 appearances across all competitions, while he also laid on 3 assists on his way to being named the club’s Players’ Player of the Year for 2018.

Ayew has also garnered plenty of international experience, having made 47 appearances for the Ghana national team, in which he has found the back of the net on 12 occasions.

The 26-year-old’s record in the Premier League might not be mind-boggling but he has proven himself to be an able performer at that level. Possessing pace, strength and the smartness to cause problems to the opposition with his movement, Ayew can be a handful to deal with in the attacking third.

Celtic could use such a presence in their attack next season. The Hoops have Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths as their options at the top and are understood to be working on a deal to sign Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain after the youngster impressed on loan last season.

However, the dour displays of Englishman Scott Sinclair for large parts of the season, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding Dembele’s future at the club is something that Rodgers should be worried about and should look to address before it becomes a major problem.

Ayew, at 26, is entering the best years of his career and has plenty of top-level experience under his belt to come in and make an immediate impact at the Parkhead. Capable of playing anywhere in the attacking third, the Ghanaian international will provide more options to the manager and will also share the goalscoring burden off his teammates.

The fact that he has a contract until the summer of 2020 might see Swansea demand a large fee for the transfer but if Celtic manage to get him this summer, it will be a major coup.