HOOPS IN FIGHT FOR £2.7M ACE
Celtic aim to land Vakoun Issouf Bayo.. but Parma and Rapid Vienna want him too
CELTIC face a battle with Parma and Rapid Vienna for Vakoun Issouf Bayo and will have to go to £2.7million to land the striker.
The Hoops have had a bid of around £1.75m kicked out by Bayo’s Slovakian club Dunajska Streda and are locked in a three-way fight for the 21-year-old Ivorian.
Record Sport can reveal newly-promoted Italian Serie A side Parma and
Rangers’ Europa League conquerors Rapid Vienna have tabled bids in excess of Celtic’s offer for Bayo.
Dunajska Streda sit second in the Slovak Super Liga as they chase their first title and are reluctant to lose Bayo who has hit 10 goals in 16 league games this season.
His contract runs until June 2021 but sporting director Jan van Daele says they won’t stand in his way if Celtic stump up the cash.
Brendan Rodgers is desperate to bolster his attack with Leigh Griffiths out of action and Odsonne Edouard not fully fit. But with the transfer window set to open today they face a battle for his signature.
Bayo has been capped twice for Ivory Coast.
Dunajska Streda’s Belgian sporting director van Daele said: “I can’t confirm the numbers but it is true we have received an offer from Celtic for Vakoun Issouf Bayo which has not been accepted.
“Negotiations are at a very early stage. There have also been other offers from European clubs and enquiries.
“He has two-and-a-half years on his contract but if a club with the standing of Celtic wants one of our players it would be difficult to stop it.
“But the transfer window is just opening and there is a lot of interest.
“We don’t want to kill dreams – it’s an aim of our club to offer a platform for players to go to bigger leagues – but we have a value that must be met.”
Meanwhile, troubled star Griffiths has vowed he will be back doing what he does best in 2019. The striker tweeted: “Been off for a while but happy new year when it comes.
“In 2019 I’ll be back doing what I do best, helping the team achieve as much as we can. And I can’t wait.”