Celtic forward Vakoun Issouf Bayo has struggled for playing time.
Celtic fans haven’t seen a great deal from January signing Vakoun Issouf Bayo, but at least one of his former rivals is backing him for success in Scotland.
Brendan Rodgers swooped to sign the unknown Ivorian hitman in the January transfer window, having impressed in Slovakia with Dunajska Streda.
Bayo, 22, smashed 18 goals in 23 games for Dunajska this season, as well as picking up seven assists having impressed not only in front of goal, but also with his link-up play.
He arrived to aid Celtic’s forward line, but his situation changed when Rodgers left the club – and he’s yet to play any first-team football under new boss Neil Lennon.
Some have been baffled by Bayo’s lack of impact, and may well be concerned that he could go the same way as the likes of Amido Balde and Mo Bangura in being a flop in the Celtic attack.
Now though, Endy Opoku has now given his view on Bayo to World Football Index, revealing that he thought Bayo was one of the best players he came up against in Slovakia, when Opoku was playing for Slovakian rivals Podbrezova.
Opoku feels that Bayo has ‘great potential’ and ‘can become a big name’, believing that his transfer to Celtic was ‘beautiful’ – and whilst Lennon may not fancy Bayo just yet, he still has a chance to become a star as Rodgers intended.
“Even this was one is a hard one, but if I look back at my time in Slovakia I was impressed by Vakoun Bayo,” said Opoku. “He has great potential he did a fantastic job in the Slovak league that led to a beautiful transfer to Celtic. I believe if he keeps his focus, he can become a big name,” he added.
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