Strengthening their midfield by bringing in Eboue Kouassi from FC Krasnodar in Russia, Celtic were also looking to bolster their frontline during the January transfer window.
The (realistically) soon-to-be Scottish Premiership champions had targeted KAS Eupen forward Henry Onyekuru for that particular role, but the Belgian side refused to let their star go.
Annoyed at this, the 19-year-old decided to try and force a move by disappearing for a week, refusing to take his club’s calls.
Unfortunately for the Celtic target, Eupen never accepted the €1m+ offer, and he returned to his club having to apologise to both staff and players before being allowed to train with the squad again.
Now back in the first team, the forward has returned to his decisive ways, scoring the winner against KAA Gent at the weekend and earning his side three vital points.
If he is to leave the Belgian side in the summer, and if Eupen want to get the money they feel he is worth, this kind of performance will need to continue.
Having scored 13 goals in 27 games, the forward has been used both as a left winger and a striker this season by Eupen, and it is this versatility and ability to find the back of the net that undoubtedly caught the eye of Brendan Rodgers and his scouts prior to January.
With Moussa Dembélé’s and Scott Sinclair’s future beyond this season a big question mark at Celtic Park, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bhoys were already looking at replacements for the two forwards, and Onyekuru certainly fits the bill for either.
However, with other clubs also keen on the young Nigerian’s services, they might have to look elsewhere for their man.
Clearly targeting someone young and fast were Sinclair to leave, an interesting target for Brendan Rodgers could be Caen’s Yann Karamoh.
The 18-year-old right-winger has certainly caught the eye this season with his blistering pace and strong right foot, and with four goals and three assists in 14 league starts, the potential is certainly there.
Furthermore, his ability to play on either wing will be an appeal to most managers.
Caen aren’t the richest club around Ligue 1, and with a good offer of somewhere in between €5-7m, a fee far smaller than what Celtic would get for Sinclair, the Scottish side shouldn’t have too much problem convincing their French counterparts to part ways with their exciting talent.
As for a Moussa Dembélé replacement, Rodgers will be looking to someone young, quick and with the ability to find the back of the net seamlessly, and who better than the son of Celtic Park legend Henrik Larsson?
Jordan Larsson, now 19, moved to NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie in January for just over £500k after impressing with Helsingborgs IF when his father was in charge of the club.
Yet, were Celtic to come forward with an offer in the summer, one allowing the Dutch side to triple (or more) their money, you would think something could get worked out.
Scoring 11 goals in 33 appearances last season, Larsson had a similar goalscoring record to that of Moussa Dembélé in the Championship prior to his move to Scotland, and demonstrates a lot of the same traits.
Capable of coolly slotting past the keeper when one on one, or scoring great diving headers reminiscent of a certain Swedish striker, the youngster is also prone to producing some moments of magic, like this outstanding free-kick against AIK.
Used mostly on the right in Holland so far, Larsson is still learning his trade, and considering how much Dembélé has improved during his short time in Scotland, who’s to say Rodgers wouldn’t be able of doing the same with the Celtic legend’s son?
And, let’s be honest, if there was one club Henrik Larsson would want his son to go to knowing it would help him grow as a footballer, it’d probably be Celtic.
