Celtic submit bid for latest striker target with ‘enormous amount of potential’
Celtic have submitted a bid for Mohamed Bamba in the latest of their efforts to bring in a new striker to lead Martin O’Neill’s team.
It has been a disappointing January window so far, with Celtic’s failed bid for Joel Piroe the latest of several transfer embarrassments this month.
The Bhoys are keen to provide O’Neill with a new forward, but have so far been unable to complete a second signing to follow defender Julian Araujo, who arrived under Wilfried Nancy.
Sunderland hijacked Celtic’s move for Jocelin Ta Bi, and several other targets have been missed out on in recent days.
Celtic attempted to sign Franko Kovacevic, but the forward is now reportedly set to sign for Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
Celtic submit loan-to-buy bid for Moahmed Bamba
Bamba, 24, plays in Ligue 1 for Lorient, where he arrived from Austrian club Wolfsberger AC in 2024.
The striker had impressed in the Austrian Bundesliga, but Lorient could not have imagined the stunning form he would arrive in.
In his first four Ligue 1 matches, Bamba scored five goals, ending the season having netted eight goals and provided three assists in just 16 league matches.
| Mohamed Bamba | Ligue 1 2023-24 |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 8 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Successful dribbles | 11 |
| Duels won | 62 |
Last season saw the Ivorian miss almost three months of action with an ankle issue, but he still impressively ended the season with three goals and seven assists.
The current campaign has been harsher on Bamba, however. He has netted just once in 16 Ligue 1 games, with that singular goal coming against Monaco in September.
New surroundings could be exactly what the 24-year-old needs to revive his career, and that is what Celtic have attempted to provide him with.
The Scottish Premiership club have submitted a loan offer with an option to buy, according to Sport.FR.
The outlet reports that Lorient are considering the offer but are in a strong position, with Bamba’s contract set to expire in 2028.
What Bamba’s teammate said will excite Celtic fans
There remains confidence in France that Bamba can rediscover the form that he showed upon his initial arrival at Lorient in 2024, but it may well be that the French club loan him out.
The Scottish Premiership could be the perfect place for the striker, who loves to run into space and take on his defender.
“He’s a really likeable boy, and a bit like a hunting dog who does a lot for the good of the team,” said Lorient teammate Motassar Talbi in 2024.
“He could have actually scored more goals and has an enormous amount of potential,”
Whether Celtic can be successful in their latest bid to bring in an attacker remains to be seen.