Why Celtic must go all out to sign Ismaila Soro

According to a report by The Scottish Sun, Celtic are interested in a £3m for Ismaila Soro, who currently plays for Israeli club Bnei Yehuda.

The report further states that Hoops scouts were present during a recent game to monitor the defensive midfielder in action. Contracted to his current club for 18 more months, the 21-year-old does seem like a promising prospect. Having signed the likes of Hatem Abd Elhamed, Efe Ambrose and Nir Bitton, Celtic’s interest in Soro does not come as a surprise.

As of now, the Hoops are perched firmly atop the Scottish Premiership standings. Arch-rivals Rangers are hot in pursuit but at present, they are separated by a goal difference of just one. In such a situation, Neil Lennon must prioritize signing new players in January to bolster certain areas of the field. And with that in mind, plotting a move to sign Soro certainly seems like a good idea.

His addition would not only boost squad depth but also inject young blood into their midfield unit.
The chances of him becoming a regular ahead of the likes of Scott Brown and Callum McGregor does look slim.

However, his presence would be particularly handy in Europa League matches and whatnot. Profiled as a defensive midfielder, Soro would be tasked with doing the dirty work in the middle of the park. Considering the fact that Celtic already have a gem in that role in Brown, the youngster would find a solid mentor to learn from and hone his skills further.

If he goes on to fulfil his potential at Parkhead, Soro could even become Brown’s long-term successor. The un-capped Ivory Coast international might not make an immediate impact but his mere presence could play a decisive role when the fixtures start getting more hectic.

The fact that he has played in all of Yehunda’s games so far indicates his level of importance in the squad and if he can replicate that form at Parkhead as well, Celtic would have a real gem at hand.

Thus, the Hoops would be wise to fork out the required sum and acquire the midfielder’s services at the earliest.