Could Vakoun Issouf Bayo be Celtic’s modern day version of Georgios Samaras?
Celtic wrapped up the signing of Vakoun Issouf Bayo a little earlier this week.
The 22-year-old joined Celtic on a permanent basis from Dunajska Streda, becoming Brendan Rodgers’s third January signing in the process.
Much has been made over the fact that Bayo scored a brilliant 18 goals in 23 games for the Slovakian side this season – but little has been mentioned about the fact that half of them were headers.
According to Transfermarkt, the Ivorian marksman has used his head to score nine goals this season, and how significant this could be for Celtic.
Rodgers has arguably never had a striker with this skill set during his time at Parkhead.
Going by Transfermarkt’s data, Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele scored a total of 12 headed goals between them since the Northern Irishman arrived in Scotland in 2016.
Bayo clearly knows how to use his head and the youngster could be the Hoops’ first proper plan-b option under Rodgers, and perhaps their biggest aerial threat since Georgios Samaras.
The Greek attacker scored 73 goals for the Bhoys and 23 of those were headers [Transfermarkt].
Bayo is a good four inches shorter than the 6’4 Samaras but, excitingly for Celtic fans and Rodgers, he may be just as dangerous with his head.
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