This summer is a crucial one for Celtic Football Club. A new manager, director of football and CEO are set to take up roles at Parkhead while a number of the playing staff look set to exit.

The biggest fear is that Hoops striker Odsonne Edouard will finally depart in the coming weeks but few would blame him.

This has been a disastrous season for the Bhoys, one they’ll want to quickly forget about once the window opens.

On the chalkboard

If Edouard does leave, something that feels likely, it will leave the Hoops without a recognised goal scorer in their side.

The Frenchman helped himself to 22 strikes throughout the season but beyond that, options are limited.

Leigh Griffiths could be released while Albian Ajeti hasn’t set the world alight since signing.

The Swiss cost Celtic £5m last summer and looked a positive purchase initially. The former West Ham attacker scored five goals in his opening ten matches but he’s only found the net once since September.

With that kind of record in mind, the Hoops could find themselves slipping even further away from Rangers in the next year.

The solution

Celtic have been linked with a number of new strikers including Josh King and Kyle Joseph.

However, the hierarchy could save themselves some funds by taking another look at Vakoun Bayo.

The Ivorian arrived under Brendan Rodgers back in 2019 but he’s not had a very profitable spell in Scottish football.

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Bayo has played just 17 times for Celtic, scoring two goals in the process. He was left out of their Europa League squad just a month after arriving and then wasn’t able to find a route into the team under Neil Lennon either.

A loan spell was exactly what the doctor ordered this season. Sent on loan to Toulouse in the second tier of French football, he’s found a decent run of form.

The 24-year-old has scored 12 goals in all competitions, four of which have come in his last three outings.

Described as a “powerful” forward by the boisterous and controversial Chris Sutton, he possesses similar qualities in that regard to Edouard.

His goal scoring instinct doesn’t compare but he’s demonstrated now that he can actually find the net on a regular basis.

A return for Bayo feels far-fetched but the option is certainly worth exploring during pre-season.

AND in other news, Move over Howe: Celtic must consider hiring 42 y/o who left Rodgers "really impressed"...