Celtic were linked with Red Star Belgrade’s prolific striker Richmond Boakye – but Premier League giants Newcastle United look his more likely destination.
Richmond Boakye looks set to be in a privileged position in the January transfer window. The striker’s unbelievable goalscoring record for Red Star Belgrade across the calendar year have made him one of the most in-demand attackers in Europe with no shortage of Premier League clubs aiming to lure the Ghanaian to England.
According to ESPN, Newcastle United are the latest club who have joined the race for a striker who has scored 45 goals for club and country in 2017 alone. Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is understood to be desperate for a striker and, if Boakye can replicate his stunning form on Tyneside, he would be an immediate improvement on Joselu and Dwight Gayle.
The Mail claimed that Celtic were interested too – but it seems that Parkhead will not be the 24-year-old’s next destination with GhanaSoccerNet reporting that Boakye has his heart set on a move to England.
But while the sudden resurgence of PSG loanee Odsonne Edouard has seemingly toned down Celtic’s need for a new striker in January, could reports that Boakye wants to move to the Premier League instead have come at the worst possible time.
After all, it’s just a few days since Moussa Dembele caused a real storm by hinting that he could be open to a premature departure from Parkhead as early as next month, as reported by the Daily Record.
And while Leigh Griffiths has played down reports of a rift with manager Brendan Rodgers, the fact he has played just 22 minutes of football in December suggests that all is not well with the number nine.
With speculation intensifying that one of Dembele and Griffiths could leave in January, it appears a ready-made replacement is already out of Celtic’s grasp.
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