Transfer Latest – Approach made for French midfielder heavily linked with Celtic

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The Celtic Star

·10 gennaio 2025

Transfer Latest – Approach made for French midfielder heavily linked with Celtic

Reports have been circulating in France, via FootMercato, that a reported Celtic target has been the subject of a bid from Reims…

Duje Caleta-Car, Corentin Tolisso, Mahamadou Diawara and Maxence Caqueret of Olympique Lyonnais acknowledge the fans after the UEFA Europa League 4-1 victory in the match between theRangers and Olympique Lyonnais at Ibrox on October 3, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Olympique Lyonnais midfielder, Mahamadou Diawara, had been in the crosshairs of Brendan Rodgers and the recruitment team at Celtic Park last summer transfer window and there has been speculation again that the Irishman could yet make a move for the midfield enforcer this month at some point.

OneFootball Video

Celtic needs a ball-winning enforcer

Arne Engels & Brendan Rodgers during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Of course, one of the main issues at Celtic for some time now has been the lack of physicality in midfield and need for a more natural number 6 than the captain, Callum McGregor. The club acquired the services of Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and our record singing, Arne Engels respectively in the close season; however, none of that trio would be in the classic mould of a ball-winning enforcer in the central area of the park.

Callum McGregor of Celtic acknowledges the fans following the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The immediacy of the manager’s needs

Whilst not thought to be an immediate concern, the games in the UEFA Champions League group stages and against our main rivals, theRangers, may have changed opinion somewhat of what the immediacy of the manager’s needs are this month now. The Bhoys were ropey in both matches against the Ibrox outfit of late and although you could argue one was a dead rubber, the cup final almost certainly was not.

Therefore, it may be in the club’s best interests to furnish Rodgers with a more aggressive midfielder this transfer window, so as to ensure our grip domestically, whilst at the same time, trying to make more of an impact on Europe’s grandest stage.

With Diawara said to be keen on securing more regular first team football, and with Lyon in considerable fiduciary trouble, perhaps the time to strike is now – particularly now that approaches have been made for the young man’s talent.

Paul Gillespie

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