Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that Bnei Yehuda midfielder Ismaila Soro is on the brink of being officially confirmed as a Hoops player.
The Ivorian has been heavily linked with a move to Parkhead in recent weeks, and at his press conference today, Lennon revealed that the transfer should be finalised very soon:
“We’re just waiting on the paperwork being done. Hopefully, that can be resolved over the next few days. He’s strong, technically very good, quick across the ground and hungry.”
Fans on Twitter are hoping Soro can provide some extra energy and bite in Celtic’s midfield:
That’s good signing. He’s what we needed! I feel that he would run through brick walls, fears of no-one, also he can move the ball forward quickly as well which is something we're really lacking with Broony (no offence!) nowadays
— LouMun 67 (@lfmunro) 16 January 2020
Good. we have been crying out for a defensive midfielder for a while. Lets hope he's another Wanyama type player ?
— PaddyBoy (@Paddyboy124) 15 January 2020
I'm happy with that, ??
— Shug Harvie (@HughHarvie) 15 January 2020
I love broony but we have plan for the future, get the bhoy in the door get him learning fae captain fantastic.
— Johnbhoy (@JohnHislop12) 16 January 2020
Crying out for a player like him in the last two Rangers games. Lets hope he is that player.
— Marc? (@LisboaHeat67) 15 January 2020
— JohhnyMartin88 (@JohhnyMartin88) 15 January 2020
If he signs, be interested seeing what Lenny does. He shows no signs dropping SB, "#Celtic heartbeat" & seems to favour running SB, Jamsie, Calmac, Eddy into ground when there are alts – Bitton/Kouassi, Shved/Dembele, Rogic/Connell, Bayo/Griff/Afolabi. Same players, same format.
— Mo (@50sEKBOY) 15 January 2020
The 21-year-old is not particularly well known outside of Israel, where he has been playing his football over the last eighteen months, but the Scottish club’s recruitment department have certainly done well in the past by bringing in players from the country.
Midfielder Nir Bitton signed from Ashdod in 2013 and remains an important squad player six and a half years later, while right-back Hatem Abd Elhamed also joined from Israel side Hapoel Beer Sheeva at the beginning of the season.