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Newcastle United loanee Salomon Rondon continued his decent start to the season with two goals in Venezuela’s 2-0 win against Panama on Tuesday night, and Celtic should have signed him and offloaded Moussa Dembele earlier during the summer transfer window.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Bhoys looked to be sorted in terms of strikers during the summer with Dembele, Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard in their ranks, but it soon became apparent that the former was in high demand in France, and that a move back to his home country would suit him.
The Scottish Premiership holders understandably weren’t willing to sell the 22-year-old on the cheap however, but the fact that they sold him to Lyon on deadline day was hardly ideal, as it gave them no chance to get a replacement in.
Meanwhile, Rondon was another centre-forward on the move this summer as he joined Newcastle on a temporary basis until the end of the season from West Bromwich Albion, and he has one goal and one assist in four appearances in all competitions thus far.
Why should Celtic have signed Rondon?
It was clear early on that Dembele likely wanted out of Parkhead this summer, and Brendan Rodgers’ men should have cashed in on him far sooner than they did to allow them to bring in a player that wanted to play for Celtic.
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While his record of 28 goals in 120 games for West Brom was hardly spectacular, it does have to be taken into consideration that he often played up top on his own for the Baggies – a side that also didn’t create too many opportunities.
The 28-year-old certainly brings more to his team than goals though, and as well as his high work rate he is also able to create opportunities for his teammates, and would have created more space for the likes of Edouard this term if they were on the pitch at the same time.
