Former Celtic midfielder Davie Provan is not convinced by the signings that have been brought in to Parkhead so far in this transfer window.
The Hoops have so far brought in Timothy Weah, Oliver Burke and Vakoun Issouf Bayo, but Provan is not convinced that Weah and Burke are the signings that are going to help Celtic lift yet another Scottish Premiership title.
He blasted Peter Lawwell and head of recruitment Lee Congerton for turning to youngsters like Weah – who is only 18-years-old – and added that the club should be looking for players who are more experienced.
“Lawwell and head of recruitment Lee Congerton should have read the signs during the first half of the campaign. Instead, they have taken a major punt on three youngsters who are still learning their trade” he wrote in his Scottish Sun column.
“Listen, for all I know, Timothy Weah might have the DNA to shoot the lights out in Scotland. But if you’re looking for consistency, you don’t turn to an 18-year-old. You pay what it takes for the tried and trusted.
“Oli Burke’s another gamble. At 21, he’s not the finished article and will only improve under Rodgers. At 22, Vakoun Issouf Bayo looks a safer bet on the evidence of his numbers in the Slovakian league. Already an Ivory Coast cap, the striker shouldn’t find our Premiership beyond him.
“But if these youngsters are the only business Celtic are doing, they are taking one hell of a risk.”
OPINION
Provan is right – Celtic are definitely taking a gamble by signing the young promising trio rather than experienced players. There is no denying the talent that attracted the Hoops to their services in the first place, it is just that they are still so young, and are not proven at the highest level yet. They should have gone for players who are far more experienced – even if it meant paying that little bit more for their signature. However, who knows whether these two players could prove Provan wrong? There is every chance that both of them will blow everyone away in Scotland, but then there is every chance that they will not. Provan says that signing them was a risk, and it is easy to see where he is coming from. However, they do have a solid recruit in the shape of Bayo. Having scored 18 goals in 23 games in the Slovakian League, Bayo is more than capable of replicating those numbers at Parkhead – which would be much to the delight of Rodgers and the fans.