FootMercato reported on Friday evening that Celtic has reached an agreement with the French team, Valenciennes, for the transfer of Celtic’s overlooked player, Ismaila Soro.
Soro, a midfielder, spent the entirety of the previous season on loan with the Portuguese team, Arouca. However, his performance did not impress enough to warrant a permanent bid for his services. Adding to the complexity, Arouca signed Eboue Kouassi, a former Celtic player, to fill the defensive midfield role that Soro had occupied.
This development left Soro at a significant crossroads in his career. He found himself so far removed from the core team at Celtic Park that he wasn’t even required to attend training under Brendan Rodgers. Instead, he was instructed to seek a new club.
It appears that Soro’s search for a new home may soon come to an end. He is expected to sign with the Ligue 2 team, Valenciennes, within the next couple of days.
Soro was initially signed by Neil Lennon. During the pandemic-affected season, many fans believed that his energetic presence in the midfield could provide the necessary drive for the team. However, in reality, his performance was erratic and lacked focus.
Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou didn’t see much value in retaining Soro during his two-year spell at the club either.
If Celtic has managed to secure any sort of transfer fee for Soro, it can be considered a sound business move.
