Euro club line up transfer missions for Celtic misfit hailed 'brilliant' by Rodgers - Sources
By Wayne Veysey
Panathinaikos are planning to closely monitor Celtic's misfit midfielder Eboue Kouassi ahead of a possible January swoop, Football Insider understands.
The midfielder, 21, has made only 22 appearances for the Hoops since signing for £3million from Russian club Krasnodar in January 2017.
A Greek source has told Football Insider the club weighed up a move for Kouassi in the summer window but held back as the player works his way back from a cruciate ligament knee injury.
The club are set to line up scouting missions for the midfield anchorman when he is fully recovered from the injury that has sidelined him since last October.
Celtic are willing for Kouassi to continue his development by going out on loan, and it remains to be seen whether they will be interested in a permanent sale.
Former manager Rodgers spoke highly of the potential of Kouassi on a number of occasions and tipped him to become Scott Brown's successor the midfield anchorman at Celtic.
He told the Record in January of last year: "Eboue’s brilliant in training, he does everything, and longer term he will certainly fulfill that role when Scott moves on."
Neil Lennon has appeared less certain of Kouassi's ability to slot into the Scottish treble winners' side, and has spoken of his interest in trying to sign Victor Wanyama on loan from Tottenham during the recently-shut transfer window.
The northern Irishman does not foresee the Ivorian youngster being a key member of the first-team squad this season as his struggles to establish himself continue.