Celtic snapped up the Southampton ace on a season-long loan.
Mark Bowen has tipped Mohamed Elyounoussi to be a ‘real asset’ for Celtic after admitting that he struggled at Southampton in the Premier League.
The Hoops snapped up the Norway attacker on a season-long loan from the English club late in the summer transfer window.
It was a relatively surprising decision by Southampton by virtue of the fact that they shelled out £16 million on signing the 25-year-old [The Scotsman] in 2018.
Elyounoussi opened his account for Celtic in the 2-0 Europa League win over Cluj in Glasgow earlier this month.
And Bowen, who was Mark Hughes’s assistant on the South Coast, admits that the Scottish Premiership is better suited to the player right now.
Bowen, who was appointed as Reading’s head coach today, told The Record: “We paid a big fee to get him in at Southampton but, looking back, it was probably too soon for him in the Premier League.
“No disrespect to Celtic but they’ll be playing in games where they dominate possession. They’ll have loads of the ball. So I’ve no doubts he’ll do well up there and be a real asset for Celtic.”
The Morocco-born star has certainly offered glimpses of his quality to Celtic fans and Bowen is right, there is definitely potential there.
Question is, will Neil Lennon be able to sign him on a permanent basis next summer? He is contracted to Southampton until 2023, meaning that they can demand a relatively high permanent fee.
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