Scottish Premiership champions Celtic need a centre-forward to replace Moussa Dembele but could Red Bull Salzburg’s Munas Dabbur be that man?
Celtic eased the mounting pressure on Brendan Rodgers with a much-needed victory against St Johnstone in Wednesday’s League Cup clash at McDiarmid Park. But a 1-0 win, sealed by another late Leigh Griffiths goal, hardly silences the critics.
The Scottish Premiership champions once again lacked fluidity and struggled in front of goal. They have endured their worst domestic start in 20 years and, since the deadline-day departure of Moussa Dembele, have scored only six goals in six league games.
Signing a replacement for the influential Frenchman, who notched 48 goals in two seasons before joining Lyon, is already looking like a must in January.
Fortunately for Celtic, however, they have an opportunity to scout a man who could fill Dembele’s boots next week. The Hoops will travel to Red Bull Salzburg for their Europa League group-stage clash and Munas Dabbur is undoubtedly the one to watch.
The Israeli international scored 29 times as Salzburg won the Austrian Bundesliga title and reached the Europa League semi-finals last season. And he has started the new campaign in prolific fashion, hitting 11 goals in 14 games already.
Dabbur would not break the bank considering that he is playing one of Europe’s lesser leagues. And, with £19.7 million in the back pocket after Dembele’s exit, Celtic have plenty of funds to invest in a new centre forward.
The Hoops could do worse than to have a word with Salzburg about Dabbur’s availability when they travel to Austria.
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