Celtic and Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers are neck and neck in the Scottish Premiership, but are the Hoops about to make their intent obvious?
Things could barely be any closer between Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table.
Celtic, who have a game in hand, are only ahead of their bitter Glasgow rivals on goal difference at the summit after Rangers won Saturday’s Old Firm battle at Ibrox.
It was not only the result, but the performance which should have Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers slightly worried.
Under Steven Gerrard, the Gers are a match for the Premiership champions and what both sides do in the January transfer window may determine where the title ends up come May.
Celtic need at least one striker, but it looks like Rodgers might be interested in two – Timothy Weah [RMC Sport] and Vakoun Issouf Bayo [The Record] – and if both come off then Gerrard should be both worried and envious.
The Bhoys have netted three more goals than the Ibrox side this season, and adding even more firepower might make it very difficult for Rangers to keep pace.
Weah, the son of George Weah who has already started following some Parkhead players on social media, is a gem and will almost certainly add something, while Bayo has been described by Ivory Coast’s manager as a ‘killer in front of goal’.
Gerrard might boast the best striker in Scotland in the form of Alfredo Morelos, but the Blues are massively reliant on the Colombian, who has 20 goals in all competitions.
If you take him out of the picture then you have Kyle Lafferty, who hasn’t scored since September, and well that’s about it, in terms of striking options. On the other hand, Celtic could have Odsonne Edouard, Weah and Bayo, not to mention Leigh Griffiths when he comes back.
Having too many goal threats is a far better problem to deal with than not having enough, and if Celtic complete both deals then Gerrard will know his team’s title bid arguably hinges on him doing the same.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
