VAKOUN ISSOUF BAYO was one of Brendan Rodgers’ last signings for Celtic in January 2019 – a month before the Irishman moved to Leicester City.
At least the outgoing boss didn’t have to witness the Ivorian attempting to meet the required standard expected of a player at Parkhead.
Bayo, who had come highly recommended by his countryman Kolo Toure in his role as a backroom boy at the Hoops, cost £2million when he joined from Slovakian outfit Dunajska Streda, but looked out of place right from the start.
HIT AND MISS…Vakoun Issouf Bayo prepares to volley in a shot against Hearts in an early appearance at Parkhead.
The powerhouse forward made just nine Premiership appearances in two seasons and scored two goals against lower league opposition in Partick Thistle in the League Cup and Clyde in the Scottish Cup.
Bayo spent a season on loan at French second-tier Toulouse, where he claimed 10 strikes, before moving in a permanent switch in a deal believed to be worth £1.5million to KAA Gent.
He moved to Charleroi on loan before the move became permanent in May 2022. He then made a quickfire shift to Watford. He netted four goals in 24 appearances for the English Championship side before being loaned back to the Belgians for the remainder of the season.
Bayo returned to his parent club in the summer and is a first-team regular. He claimed a double in his side’s 5-1 win at Preston earlier this month to take his season’s tally to five.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.
