Why Celtic should go all out to sign PSG starlet Moussa Sissako
According to The Daily Mail, Scottish champions Celtic are eyeing Paris Saint-Germain starlet Moussa Sissako this month.
A Mali Under-23 international, Moussa Sissako, 19, progressed through the youth ranks of Paris Saint-Germain but is yet to break into their star-studded senior side.
The defender, though under contract until the summer of 2021, is unlikely to get first-team opportunities in the forthcoming future due to the presence of experienced heads like Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Abdou Diallo and Thilo Kehrer ahead of him in the pecking order.
That being said, it’s in the best of interests for Sissako to leave PSG for pastures new this month and Celtic would be an ideal destination for him.
The Daily Mail adds the Hoops boss, Neil Lennon, is planning to make four additions in January. Celtic were given a reality check by arch-rivals Rangers, who ended their hoodoo at Celtic Park by beating the hosts 2-1 before the winter break.
The Bhoys do need to sign another striker, the recent loss to Rangers showed that. Odsonne Edouard, who has been in rollicking form for the reigning Scottish champions since the start of the campaign, needs competition and back up.
Thus, Lennon must prioritize signing a centre-forward. In addition to that, the Northern Irishman should also recruit a central defender.
Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer have forged a strong partnership at the back but the manner in which the latter struggled against Rangers shows that the backline is still fragile and can be exposed.
With Jozo Simunovic struggling with injury problems and Jack Hendry completely frozen out of the first-team picture, the addition of Moussa Sissako would make sense.
Sissako impressed in a UEFA Youth League game three years ago against Celtic and has been on the Scottish club’s radar since then. (h/t The Daily Mail)
The 19-year-old is a talented youngster but there is no hope of him getting first-team football in PSG’s senior team under Thomas Tuchel, who has an array of defensive resources.
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Having said that, Sissako must follow the footsteps of Odsonne Edouard and Timothy Weah, and join the Hoops. Celtic brought in Edouard from PSG in a club-record deal, whereas Weah enjoyed a solid loan spell at Parkhead last season.
Moreover, Lennon has an excellent track record of promoting youngsters and nurturing academy kids, so Sissako will likely get chances to showcase his talent.
Verdict
The arrival of Sissako would provide a much-needed cover to the first-team pair of Jullien and Ajer.
With Rangers posing a massive threat this time around, Celtic need a couple of quality additions to boost their squad. And signing the PSG starlet would be a smart move.
