A report in Football Insider claims that Jordan Ibe is prepared to take a pay cut to head north and sign for Scottish Premiership champions-elect Celtic.
The £40,000-per-weekweek star has not had his troubles to seek this season and has made one matchday squad since September, added to the fact that he has just five goals and nine assists since signing from Liverpool for £15million in 2016 and it’s clear to see why he isn’t being offered another contract with Bournemouth.
Ibe has also recently been in trouble with the law as he was hit with a 16-month driving ban and £7,500 fine in February for driving his Bentley into a cafe and then subsequently leaving the scene.
The Liverpool academy graduate had been linked with a loan move to Celtic at the start of the season (and again in January), so it is safe to say that Neil Lennon is an admirer of the winger. However, the move never materialised when the gaffer preferred to go with Daniel Arzani and Mohamed Elyounoussi instead.
With Marian Shved remaining a peripheral figure at the club and Mikey Johnston not showing either the quality or consistency that his potential promised, Lennon may think about once again giving Ibe a second chance to resurrect his career.
Ibe won’t be short of offers in England and the Parkhead boss’ decision to switch to a 3-5-2 could go against him in his attempts to lure a winger to the club. It might also be a stumbling block for the men who control the purse strings, regardless of how much of a cut the 24-year-old would be willing to take.