BNEI YEHUDA will today take a £2.5m gamble by playing Celtic bound Ismaila Soro in their Israeli Cup quarter final match against Hapoel Afula.
The Ivory Coast midfielder was thought to have played his final game for his current club at the weekend but has now been asked to appear today before making the journey to Scotland to sign on for Neil Lennon’s Scottish Champions.
Yesterday Lennon got his first deal of this transfer window over the line with the £3.4m signing of Polish striker Patryk Klimala – who’s already been nicknamed Polish Paddy and expected to play alongside French Eddie, the club’s talisman Odsonne Edouard.
And Soro, providing there are no mishaps in today’s Israel Cup tie, will become the second new arrival at Celtic and will prove extra strength and quality to the sitting midfield roles at the club, possibly allowing Callum McGregor to push further forward. Ryan Christie is both injured – having had surgery – and suspended after Celtic’s last game, the 2-1 home defeat to the Rangers on 29 December.
The Scottish FA have yet to determine what if any action that they will take against Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent who both made threatening gestures to the Celtic Support during that game. Indeed this led to the one Celtic supporter on social media issuing a threat to the two provocative Rangers players and his tweet was reported to Police Scotland by the Ibrox club themselves.
This resulted in a guilty verdict being lodged and the individual is now in custody awaiting sentencing. That is all due legal process but what about the provocation that led to this admitted offence by the two Rangers players?
Is it acceptable to threaten to blow people’s brains out with a gun after scoring a goal or to threaten to slit supporters’ throats after being sent off? The Scottish FA should tell us before play resumes on Saturday.
And perhaps Police Scotland and Celtic FC can update us all on the other claim made by the Ibrox club – that Alfredo Morelos was racially abused by Celtic Supporters on 29 December. The video evidence that was referred to by the journalists who dutifully reported on these alleged incidents contrary to their claims that received world-wide attention, do not contain any racist remarks.
Celtic told us that they are unable to comment while the investigations are ongoing. The club’s SLO John Paul Taylor told The Celtic Star that Celtic “Can’t say anything on recent allegations until investigations on complaints received are concluded, I totally get the frustration but we have complaints that need to be followed up.”
The case against the Celtic supporter who made the threats against Morelos and Kent on twitter has been followed up and dealt with. Why the delay on the bogus racist claims? If there is no evidence then tell us – and there was none in that video. If there is evidence then let’s hear about it.
Getting back to the transfer window, we might see Ismaila Soro at Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie against Partick Thistle. His current manager Elisha Levy revealed earlier this week – as reported on The Celtic Star – that an agreement to sell the player to Celtic had been reached in principle.
Bnei Yehuda have lost five from their last six games and are anxious to progress in the cup, so have now decided to play Soro today in the Quarter Final cup tie. Levy explained his decision to the media, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“We intend to play our strongest possible team. We know how important this competition is and I’ve had a chat with the players about our recent run of form.
“The hope is a win here will help our confidence for the league campaign too.”
Provided all goes well today and there are no injury worries, Ismaila Soro should be taking his seat at Firhill on Saturday to watch his new club begin the defence of the trophy they have won for the past three seasons.
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR TODAY…
Celtic Hero Harald’s Flawed Analysis – Why Pressure is all on the Rangers to win their first ever trophy…see HERE.
Striker in Loan Plea – Bayo, with a new baby on the way could stay in Scotland, why ‘Twitterless’ Griffiths must deliver…see HERE.
And a Polish UEFA Registered Coach gives us the lowdown on Patryk Klimala…
Patryk Klimala’s Road to Paradise – Emil Kot, Polish UEFA B License holder, on Celtic’s new signing…see HERE.
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