Why Caleb Ekuban could be a smart signing for Celtic
According to claims from Turkish outlet Sporx (h/t Glasgow Live), Celtic have had a £7.2m bid for Ghanaian international striker Caleb Ekuban accepted by Trabzonspor.
As per the report, the 26-year-old is expected to travel to Glasgow for a medical later this week before officially completing his move to the Scottish champions.
Profile
Born in Italy to parents of Ghanaian origin, Caleb Ekuban rose through the youth ranks of Chievo Verona but he never featured in a competitive fixture in the top-flight.
The versatile forward spent time on loan at Sudtirol, Lumezzane, and Renate in the Italian third-tier before a 17-goal season with Albanian giants Partizani Tirana paved the way for a move to Leeds United in the summer of 2017.
Ekuban’s brief stint at Elland Road in the Championship proved to be an ill-fated one, with the Ghanaian managing to find the net just once in 20 league appearances for the Whites.
The 26-year-old was transferred to Trabzonspor back in 2018 and has since established himself as a force to reckon with in the Turkish top-flight, scoring 18 goals and registering 14 assists in 70 appearances across all competitions.
Why Ekuban would be a welcome signing for Celtic
Celtic wrapped up some early business in the summer market with the capture of Swiss striker Albian Ajeti from West Ham to bolster their strike force. The youngster is expected to provide cover and competition for the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Patryk Klimala and Leigh Griffiths in front of goal for the foreseeable future.
However, Neil Lennon could be forced to settle for a massive reshuffle of his options up top if Edouard departs Parkhead in the ongoing window. The Frenchman has been linked with an exit and Celtic would be wise to prepare for the worst.
Regardless of Edouard’s future, though, the Hoops can certainly think about adding more depth to their wide attacking options and that’s where a versatile forward like Caleb Ekuban could come in very handy.
The departure of Jonny Hayes, Scott Sinclair, and Lewis Morgan in recent transfer windows have depleted Celtic of some valuable depth. That could be a decisive factor later in the season when the domestic league and cup fixtures start to come thick and fast.
Capable of playing out wide on either flank and also through the centre in a No.10 role, Ekuban’s proven track record of goals and assists in Turkey suggests that the Ghanaian could be the ideal man to compete with the likes of James Forrest, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Ryan Christie for a role in Celtic’s creative lines.
The 26-year-old looks capable of providing some real depth, quality and firepower in multiple areas of the pitch. That is something Lennon needs to take note of. Ekuban still has his best years ahead of him, so Celtic have every reason to line him up as a long-term option.
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Verdict
Suffice to say, Caleb Ekuban could be a really good signing for Celtic, who need to keep adding to their squad to maintain their dominance on the domestic front. The Ghanaian also boasts of considerable Europa League experience under his belt, thus ticking another major box.
The fee involved, though, is a bit hard to swallow because the touted figure of £7.2m would make the 26-year-old Celtic’s second-most expensive signing in their history, only behind Odsonne Edouard, who remains the club-record signing at £9million.
