MX23RW : Monday, January 14 13:13:39

Attacking acquisitions can finally fill void left by Dembele departure – Rodgers

Attacking acquisitions can finally fill void left by Dembele departure – Rodgers
© Reuters
The Celtic boss accepts his side have struggled to cope with the loss of Dembele, who joined Lyon last summer.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers admits he has had to sign three new forwards to finally replace Moussa Dembele.

Vakoun Issouf Bayo has become the Parkhead manager's latest recruit after joining loan signings Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah in Dubai for the Scottish champions' winter training camp.

The Hoops beat off competition from Parma and Rapid Vienna to land Ivory Coast striker Bayo in a reported £2million move.

West Brom forward Burke and Paris St Germain youngster Weah – son of former World Player of the Year George – will see out the season in Glasgow after sealing their own switches.

The new arrivals are a welcome boost for Rodgers after a frustrating first half of the season which saw main goal threat Odsonne Edouard struggle with injury and consistency, while Leigh Griffiths is taking time away from the game to concentrate on personal issues.

And Rodgers also admits his side have struggled to replace the power and speed that Dembele offered before he departed in a £19.7million move to Lyon last August.

But, with three new options now available to him, the Northern Irishman is confident his side have all the firepower they need as they look ahead to the second part of the campaign.

Rodgers told CelticTV: "We're a team that plays an aggressive game, an attacking game and I felt that was an area we were short in terms of our options.

"So bringing young Oliver and Timothy in will increase that in both the central and wide areas, as will young Bayo as well as he gives us a physicality with his presence and speed.

"It allows us more options with the systems we play. The style will always be the same, but it increases the way we can play.

"We suffered a little bit when Moussa left in the summer, but I'm happy with these three."

Bayo was a man in demand after starting the season with 18 goals in 23 games for Slovakian side Dunajska Streda.

But Celtic pipped their rivals to clinch the 21-year-old's signature and a delighted Rodgers added: "It's a good signing for the club. He's a forward player as we wanted to increase our options in the front line for the second part of the season.

"He's a young player who has scored goals, he's broken into the Ivory Coast national team and Kolo Toure knows him well.

"He's a player the club can develop and we're looking forward to working with him."


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Timothy Weah in action for PSG on July 21, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic20133446143242
2RangersRangers21126343162742
3Aberdeen21123634241039
4Kilmarnock2011542920938
5St Johnstone2010462524134
6Hearts2110472526-134
7Hibernian2079430181230
8Livingston218672619730
9Motherwell2163122033-1321
10Hamilton AcademicalHamilton2142151443-2914
11St Mirren2133151539-2412
12Dundee2124151546-3110

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