Why Ismaila Soro would be a smart long-term investment for Celtic

According to Scottish Sun, Celtic are interested in signing Ismaila Soro and Bnei Yehuda owner Barak Obramov has admitted that it’ll be difficult to keep hold of the midfielder if the Hoops make an offer.

Ismaila Soro, 21, has made 51 appearances for Bnei Yehuda in two years but he is yet to open his account for the Israel club. He is highly-rated by his club and the defensive midfielder’s performances have also caught the attention of Genk and Dijon, the report adds.

After Barak Obramov admitted Soro would find it almost impossible to stay at Bnei Yehuda if Celtic table an offer, should the Scottish champions really go for him?

The Hoops were given a reality check before the winter break when they were beaten at home by arch-rivals Rangers. As a result, their lead at the top of the table got trimmed to two points, with Rangers having an extra game in their hands.

Given Rangers’ might this season and the manner in which Steven Gerrard has led the side, Neil Lennon must make use of the January transfer window to address a couple of problems in his squad. A new striker is the need of the hour at the Parkhead as Lennon needs to ease the burden off star striker Odsonne Edouard.

In addition to a centre-forward, Lennon should also look to recruit a midfielder in January, as he can’t just rely on just Callum McGregor and Scott Brown in the middle of the park.

McGregor and Brown have forged a strong partnership in the middle of the park, establishing themselves as undisputed starters under the Northern Irishman.

Thus, it would be perfectly understandable if Lennon seeks some additional cover in central midfield heading into the second half of the campaign.

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The arrival of Ismaila Soro would certainly be a step in the right direction. Soro is hardly a household name in Europe and his lack of experience at the highest level makes him a gamble for Celtic. However, the Ivorian is just 21 years old and will have plenty of time to settle down at Parkhead.

Verdict

With Nir Bitton and Olivier Ntcham currently the only two senior options available to Lennon behind Brown and McGregor in the defensive/central midfield roles, Soro would, therefore, give the Celtic boss more strength in depth.

Celtic could prove to be an appealing destination for the young Ivorian. If he continues to develop, it could prove to be a clever acquisition for the Glasgow giants.