New York Red Bulls are keen to sign in-demand midfielder Ismaila Soro during the January transfer window with Celtic now open to selling this month, according to The Scottish Sun.
RBNY are one of several Major League Soccer franchises interested in taking Soro across the pond. The 23-year-old has fallen rapidly down Ange Postecoglou’s Parkhead pecking order this season, and has further admirers in Israel following his spell with Bnei Yehuda.
Postecoglou gave Soro minutes in six of his first seven Premiership fixtures in charge of the Bhoys. But the Australian has not called on the midfielder since September 26. He has also only listed the anchor on the bench twice in the Hoops’ subsequent 13 matchday squads.
His situation has worsened, too, with the arrival of Yosuke Ideguchi. So, Celtic will let Soro leave Glasgow this month, just two-years after paying Bnei Yehuda £2m. The Premiership giants are also open to sanctioning a loan deal if he cannot secure a permanent transfer.
MLS appears Soro’s most likely transfer destination as New York Red Bulls need a player of the Celtic outcast’s mould. Sean Davis left the Red Bull Arena, where he was their captain, after seven-years last week. Thus, Gerhard Struber’s side are considering raiding Parkhead.
Soro could see some familiar Celtic faces with New York Red Bulls transfer
New York Red Bulls already have some players Soro is familiar with if they agree a transfer with Celtic. RBNY bought Patryk Klimala – who moved to Glasgow in the same window as Soro – from the Bhoys for £3.5m last April, after already adding Cameron Harper in March.
Lewis Morgan also switched Glasgow for America in January 2020, and now resides in the Big Apple. He moved from MLS rivals Inter Miami in December, and Soro may now follow.
Celtic were considering Soro’s Parkhead future before New York Red Bulls’ transfer interest emerged. The Daily Record listed the Ivorian as one of four players who could feature in a winter clear-out. The other three cited were Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and Boli Bolingoli.
Soro leaving would not be a surprise given his negative position in Postecoglou’s plans over recent months. He may, therefore, leave after 41 outings without living up to the hype.
“When I saw Soro, I was immediately excited,” former Yehuda coach Ori Guttman once told The Scottish Sun. “From the first second I noticed his explosive power. His tackling and dribbling skills were incredible. He looked like he had good potential.”
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