Former England striker turned pundit, Darren Bent, believes that a former team-mate would make a great signing for Celtic if recent speculation is to be believed.
Speaking to Football Insider, Bent reveals that he played with Jordan Ibe at Derby County where the winger was “very, very good” and gives his thoughts on a potential move.
So what has Bent said?
The ex-Spurs and Aston Villa forward has been surprised with how Ibe’s career has turned out having been so impressed with him as a youngster:
“I remember playing with him, I was there with him when he was on loan at Derby from Liverpool and I fully expected him to go on to good, good things.
“He was very, very good at Derby but it has kind of stalled. Hopefully, you’d have to say the next couple of months are important.
“Maybe his next move, if he can get out of this country and go and play for a massive club like Celtic, go and win some trophies and then maybe if he eventually does come back down here, get himself in good form.”
So is Bent correct?
Neil Lennon may see Ibe as his Scott Sinclair, an obviously talented player who has lost his way a bit, a move to pastures new and a change of scenery could be exactly the thing that he needs to rediscover his best form.
Living with a £15million transfer fee has perhaps proven to be too much for the winger to deal with and figures of five goals and nine assists in his four seasons at Bournemouth are hardly worth shouting about, added to his recent brush with the law, he hasn’t had the most enjoyable 12-18 months.
He would, of course, see more of the ball and have greater opportunities to impress given Celtic’s dominance of possession and with such a superior level of team-mate compared to the opposition, he could easily become a key player fo the Parkhead club.
Lennon has been linked with Ibe on a few occasions now and with Daniel Arzani and Mohamed Elyounoussi soon to return to their parent clubs, he may see the Bournemouth player as the right man to provide the ammunition on the opposite flank to James Forrest.