Former Premier League striker, Darren Bent, has indicated that a move to Celtic would be perfect for Jordan Rhodes as the Hoops are linked with a loan move for the Sheffield Wednesday hitman.
Bent appreciates the Scotland international’s goal-scoring record and doesn’t understand why he hasn’t made the step up from the English Championship in an interview with Football Insider.
So what has Bent said?
When asked if Rhodes would be a success for Celtic if he made the move north, Bent said:
“Yeah I think he could go up to Scotland and score goals quite consistently”.
“I’ve always wondered about Jordan Rhodes as he seems to score as much as he wants when in League One or in the Championship, but no one has really given him an opportunity in the Premier League by thinking ‘yeah I think he can do it'”.
“But for someone like him who has scored that many goals, no one is looking to give him that opportunity in the Premier League so Celtic is the next best thing for him”.
“Talking about Champions League football, winning trophies, fighting with Rangers, so I think for someone like Jordan Rhodes that could be really good for him”.
So is Bent correct?
Rhodes is a natural goal scorer, yes, he has suffered in recent years with managers preferring to play with just one central striker but he is still capable of scoring goals when given the opportunity.
It would be naive to think that he would displace Odsonne Edouard given the Frenchman’s all round ability and finishing but – as demonstrated in Sunday’s Glasgow derby – Neil Lennon needs a plan B on the bench when things aren’t going his side’s way.
He would also allow Edouard to rest up from time-to-time, Rhodes may not have the same level of mobility but in a team that dominate possession so heavily, he would spend most of his time looking for space in and around the box, something he is an expert in as 108 Championship goals would prove.
Do Celtic need another striker in January?
Yes
No
Bent is correct, if Celtic were to secure the signing of Rhodes it would be a good move for both parties, the player would get the opportunity to play on a bigger stage and the club would be getting a player of genuine quality with plenty left to prove.