Celtic should consider gambling on Brendan Rodgers favourite Jordon Ibe

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Celtic are being linked with a move for Bournemouth winger Jordon Ibe in the summer. As reported by The Scottish Sun, the Bhoys could offer the £40,000-a-week star a deal in the summer as his contract with the Cherries ends. 

It is a move that would have made Brendan Rodgers happy during his time at Parkhead. The former Celtic boss was a big fan of Ibe’s when managing him at Liverpool.

He told the BBC in 2015 how he was expecting ‘big things’ of Ibe in the future after he starred in a Merseyside derby. 

“He is a very talented player. If he was a foreign player everyone would be raving about him.

“He is an incredible talent for someone so young and he can go into any arena in the world and play now.

“I expect big things from him but there is still a long way to go and a lot to learn but hopefully he could be a big influence for us.”

So why has Ibe not fulfilled that potential and is he worth the risk for Celtic?

Ibe is undoubtedly talented and when he joined Liverpool from Wycombe Wanderers at just 16-years-old there were immediate comparisons to the then-emerging Raheem Sterling. 

But he never managed to live up to his potential at Liverpool. The arrival of Jurgen Klopp did not appear to help matters, with the German seemingly less enamored by Ibe’s talents. In 2016 Klopp and Liverpool allowed Ibe to join Bournemouth for a club record (BBC) £15 million.

For whatever reason, Ibe’s first season at Dean Court was a bust. He failed to register a goal or assist in 26 games. The following campaign was more successful but he has simply not lit the touchpaper on his promising talent just yet. 

This week, off the field issues related to Ibe, have emerged which suggests a fresh start is needed somewhere else.

Celtic would be taking a risk, but a calculated one, and Ibe could easily be another Scott Sinclair in the making in Glasgow. 

He is still only 24-years-old and getting away from English football could be the spark his career needs. Celtic should certainly consider taking a gamble on a player who was so highly-rated by their former manager.