Celtic reach agreement to sign Ivory Coast midfielder

Neil Lennon TEAMtalk

Celtic have reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sign Ismaila Soro from Israeli side Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv.

It is understood a fee of around £2m (€2.5m) has been agreed for Soro, who is expected to sign a four-and-a-half-year contract with Neil Lennon’s men.

The Ivory Coast midfielder requires a work permit to move to Scotland, so a deal is some way from being finalised – although he is expected to arrive in Scotland on Friday ahead of a medical.

Lennon and Celtic have profited from the Israeli market before, having signed Beram Kayal, Nir Bitton and Efe Ambrose from clubs in Israel during his first spell in charge at Parkhead.

Hatem Abd-Elhamed also moved to Celtic last summer from Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

The 21-year-old Soro will become Lennon’s second signing of the January transfer window after Polish frontman Patryk Klimala joined the club on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Meanwhile, Celtic and Rangers have been joined by Premier League trio Wolves, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace in the quest to sign highly-rated Stoke City forward Tyrese Campbell.

Campbell has burst onto the Championship scene with the Potters this season after a successful loan spell with League One Shrewsbury Town last season.

In the current campaign, Campbell has notched four times in the Championship, becoming a regular fixture in the starting eleven as Michael O’Neill’s men have battled their way out of the relegation zone after a poor start.

Interest from Glasgow heavyweights Rangers and Celtic was reported last month, but according to talkSPORT, the Scottish pair will face stiff competition for Campbell’s signature from Wolves, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, as well as Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Read more…