Timothy Weah struggled during his time in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic but he has got big hopes at Ligue 1 outfit Lille.
Timothy Weah has a long way to go before he establishes himself as one of the best young forwards in world football.
The 19-year-old’s time at Celtic, after all, proved that, while undoubtedly talented, the USA international is far from the finished product.
Weah scored just three times in 13 Premiership appearances under Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers in the second half of last season during a loan spell from Paris Saint-Germain, with the physicality and speed of Scottish football forcing him out of the starting XI and onto the bench by May.
However Lille, who finished second in Ligue 1 behind PSG last season, clearly feel that Weah is a player with serious potential. As reported by Goal, Les Dogues have paid £9 million to sign the teenager – quite the statement after his difficult spell in Scotland.
And, in quotes reported by Goal, Weah has now set his sights on following in the footsteps of three young forwards who made their name at Lille – namely, Eden Hazard, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and the coveted, £59 million talisman Nicolas Pepe.
“I’ve known this club since I’ve played in France, and I want to discover its history,” he said. “Great players have come here like Aubameyang, Hazard and Pepe, and I am very happy to be here. I know that if I work well, I’ll improve.
“I know that Eden Hazard played here. It boosts me to be in his old club.”
Celtic fans will no doubt be keen to point out that Weah didn’t really look like the second coming of Hazard or Pepe’s long-term successor during goalless draws against the likes of Aberdeen and St Johnstone.
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