Ismaila Soro is interesting Dutch Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard, that’s according to a Football Scotland report this evening.
‘The Eredivisie outfit are hopeful of taking Soro, 23, to the Netherlands on a loan deal initially. Football Scotland understands they are prepared to pay just under half of the player’s wages with a purchase option factored in to any potential deal.
Celtic are willing to allow the midfielder to leave Parkhead this January either on loan or permanently. However there is understood to be a sticking point in the future fee which is being negotiated.
It is also understood there are several clubs around Europe – as well as a handful of MLS outfits – monitoring the situation should any hiccups arise.’
Soro was signed by Neil Lennon – or was it Peter Lawwell, who really knows? – in the January transfer window of 2020.
This season saw Soro get 18 appearances as Ange Postecoglou initially seemed keen on the player’s attributes.
However, on the back of frustrating performances, and with new signings such as Yosuke Ideguchi, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley arriving at the club, Soro has dropped so far down the manager’s list of preferences in either the No6 role or the No8 role, that a move away from the club would seem a sensible of option for both club and player.
Having arrived for a fee of in excess of £2m and having two and a half years left on his contract, Celtic will no doubt be playing hardball over the option to buy fee attached to the deal, however Celtic have already overreached with Vasilis Barkas in that regard, as a deal to shift the Greek ‘keeper to the Championship and Sheffield United apparently broke down due to Celtic’s financial demands.
It’s a delicate balance to find when you want to recoup as much money as you can when it comes to expensively purchased recruitment mistakes, yet as much as Celtic’s position makes financial sense, it only does so if ultimately an agreement can be reached.
An initial loan with half the wages paid and Soro leaving for the rest of the season, certainly seems wise. It would therefore seem a risky strategy to allow this opportunity to fold based on the fee included to make the purchase a permanent agreement in the summer.
That said, if as reported there is more than one club interested in Soro perhaps Celtic to have some wriggle room after all. Time however? That may be a different matter.
Niall J
