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Attacking acquisitions can finally fill void left by Dembele departure – Rodgers

:Headline: Attacking acquisitions can finally fill void left by Dembele departure – Rodgers: ID:346374: from db_amp
The Celtic boss accepts his side have struggled to cope with the loss of Dembele, who joined Lyon last summer.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers admits he has had to sign three new forwards to finally replace Moussa Dembele.

Vakoun Issouf Bayo has become the Parkhead manager's latest recruit after joining loan signings Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah in Dubai for the Scottish champions' winter training camp.

The Hoops beat off competition from Parma and Rapid Vienna to land Ivory Coast striker Bayo in a reported £2million move.

West Brom forward Burke and Paris St Germain youngster Weah – son of former World Player of the Year George – will see out the season in Glasgow after sealing their own switches.

The new arrivals are a welcome boost for Rodgers after a frustrating first half of the season which saw main goal threat Odsonne Edouard struggle with injury and consistency, while Leigh Griffiths is taking time away from the game to concentrate on personal issues.

And Rodgers also admits his side have struggled to replace the power and speed that Dembele offered before he departed in a £19.7million move to Lyon last August.

But, with three new options now available to him, the Northern Irishman is confident his side have all the firepower they need as they look ahead to the second part of the campaign.

Rodgers told CelticTV: "We're a team that plays an aggressive game, an attacking game and I felt that was an area we were short in terms of our options.

"So bringing young Oliver and Timothy in will increase that in both the central and wide areas, as will young Bayo as well as he gives us a physicality with his presence and speed.

"It allows us more options with the systems we play. The style will always be the same, but it increases the way we can play.

"We suffered a little bit when Moussa left in the summer, but I'm happy with these three."

Bayo was a man in demand after starting the season with 18 goals in 23 games for Slovakian side Dunajska Streda.

But Celtic pipped their rivals to clinch the 21-year-old's signature and a delighted Rodgers added: "It's a good signing for the club. He's a forward player as we wanted to increase our options in the front line for the second part of the season.

"He's a young player who has scored goals, he's broken into the Ivory Coast national team and Kolo Toure knows him well.

"He's a player the club can develop and we're looking forward to working with him."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
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