Who is Romeo Amane and should he be targeted next month?…
The January transfer window is rapidly approaching for Celtic, and the season of transfer rumours has seemed to have begun in expectation of a busy transfer window for the club.
Football Scotland reported that the club are targeting BK Hacken midfielder Romeo Amane, with Celtic scouts in attendance at Hacken’s Europa League clash with Qarabag last week. The 20-year-old Ivorian was on the 2023 European Golden Boy list alongside current Celt Odin Thiago Holm, but is he a player who will add quality to this Celtic squad and what is his profile?
With the Swedish Allsvenskan being a summer league, Hacken played the final game of their league season early last month, as they finished seven points off top spot in third. Amane enjoyed a breakout season in Sweden, scoring three goals and registering three assists across 23 league games, while also featuring ten times in the Europa League, helping his side beat Aberdeen 5-3 on aggregate to qualify for Europe’s second tier competition.
The Ivorian was largely deployed as a more attacking number eight in a 4-3-3 system for Hacken, with his statistics from the season gone by reflecting this.
According to Football Stats, Tables & Results | Soccer Stats – FootyStats, Amane ranked in the 93rd percentile in expected assists, while also ranking in the 89th percentile for successful passes and the 92nd percentile in key passes respectfully in the Swedish top tier. From data alone, Amane seems to be a competent dribbler as well, ranking in the 83rd percentile in successful dribbles.
Defensively, the attacking midfielder expectedly given his profile is relatively poor. Ranking in the 51st percentile in tackling, the 42nd percentile in interceptions and the 14th percentile in times dribbled past per 90.
In a relatively slow, physically weak current Celtic midfield, Amane at 5,9 will not add physicality or height to Rodgers side.
Hacken have a healthy reputation for developing promising African talent, with Benie Traore and Ibrahim Sadiq sold to Sheffield United and AZ Alkmaar for £3.98 million and £3.46 million both respectively last summer. The 20-year-old will cost a similar fee, with Football transfers, rumours, market values and news | Transfermarkt valuing him at £2.16 million.
Amane’s attacking statistics are no doubt impressive, but we should note that he is not the physical, athletic midfielder Celtic are crying out for in the centre of the park.
James French
I had hoped the cheap project players were at an end for this season. Amane looks more like a possible addition to the Celtic B team at the moment.