Ex-Rangers star Thomas Buffel tells Celtic what to expect from Boli Mbombo

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Celtic paid Rapid Vienna £3m to bring Belgian left-back Boli Mbombo to the Scottish Premiership – is he Kieran Tierney’s replacement?

Celtic’s new signing Boli Mbombo has received a glowing recommendation from a one-time Rangers star as he prepares to settle in and show why the Scottish champions have invested £3 million in bringing him to the Premiership, as reported by the Daily Record.

With doubts swirling about the future of star man and academy graduate Kieran Tierney, Celtic have moved fast to bring in one of the most coveted left-backs in Europe as either a replacement or a back-up for their in-demand Arsenal target.

Mbombo, a speedy and swashbuckling full-back very much in the modern mould, arrived from Austrian Bundesliga outfit Rapid Vienna on Wednesday with his contract signed and the pictures taken.

Whether the bulldozing Belgian settles into life in Glasgow and proves value for money at £3 million is anyone’s guess.

But Thomas Buffel, a former Belgium international who won the 2005 Premiership title with Rangers, believes his old rivals might have just pulled off an inspired piece of business.

“Boli did very well at Club Brugge. He is an offensive wing-back and plays on the wing and he is very fast,” said the 38-year-old, who is still playing for Zulte Waregam. “He has great speed and he is a very athletic type. Boli uses his speed in a good way and that is vitally important.

“He is a player who will excite the Celtic fans as he likes to get forward and put crosses into the penalty box. Boli functions better when he plays in a system where he can be deployed in an attacking full-back role.

“He is also a very committed player and the Celtic fans will see for themselves that he has passion and he will not give up even when he loses the ball. That is a trait that Scottish football supporters like very much.”

Whether Tierney stays or goes, there is little doubt that Mbombo will represent a considerable upgrade on the departing veteran Emilio Izaguirre, who looked a shadow of his former self whenever he played last season and failed to provide any real competition for one of the first names on Neil Lennon’s team sheet.