Despite being Celtic’s most expensive January purchase at £2m, striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo has barely featured since his arrival in Scotland.
In fact, he has made just one brief substitute appearance, in the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock, and has not played a single minute under interim manager Neil Lennon.
Supporters on Twitter can’t make heads or tails of the Ivorian’s lack of game time:
Why was this guy bought in the first place, if he’s not first team ready??
— kendo (@lennon050609) 3 April 2019
Lubo rates him, that’ll do me. He will flourish.
— Kevin (@celtickev) 3 April 2019
If he’s that raw who sanctioned parting with £2M for him?
— 606AlfieConn (@606AlfieConn) 3 April 2019
I don’t expect anything from him and if he turns out a player then great but no big deal if not. £2mil signings don’t improve our team with the quality we have.
— wyatt (@wyatt7777777) 3 April 2019
He needs time to adapt. The boy is only 21 years old and still has time to develop. Going from the Slovakian League to the SPFL is a big jump. Still he could turn great for us.
— Celtic News (@Celtic___News) 3 April 2019
Get the league tied up in next two games and then give him game time ?
— Davie ???????? (@Davie_1967) 3 April 2019
He had a thigh problem for ivory coast that’s why he wasn’t on the bench, give him time to settle and he’ll come good, drogba didn’t want him at galatasary for nothing
— Frankie_1967 (@Frankie_1888) 3 April 2019
He showed a great piece of skill in the lead up to browns goal against killie. Need to play him
— Joseph (@josephduffy81) 3 April 2019
Not sure why everyone got so excited about him in the first place, scoring a load of goals in a poor standard of league doesn’t really excite me. His time will come though and we can judge him then!
— A.C ART (@AidanCregan) 3 April 2019
Another £2 million wasted.
— chappers (@ChapmanP12) 3 April 2019
It seems to be a very strange decision to sign a player for such a sum if you are not sure he’s ready for first-team action.
Of course, the Slovakian league is not the best standard of football but 18 goals in 23 appearances, including three in Europa League qualifiers, does suggest there is talent there.
However, it appears Bayo is well down the pecking order at Celtic Park with the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Timothy Weah and even Oliver Burke ahead of him in the battle for the number nine position.