Tiémoué Bakayoko Celtic rumour has one major issue

Tiémoué Bakayoko is back in the Celtic conversation only months after coming remarkably close to joining Martin O’Neill’s squad.

Rumours circulating on social media have ranged from the former Chelsea midfielder training with Celtic to undergoing a medical.

There is still nothing credible confirming either claim but what Celtic supporters do know is that the club were prepared to sign him earlier this year.

Now his name is back.

Celtic were ready to sign Tiémoué Bakayoko in February

L’Équipe reported on 5 February that an 18-month contract was waiting for Bakayoko and an agreement was almost completed before Celtic moved for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain instead.

If he is now available to train with Celtic, there is no reason not to take a look. Get him into Lennoxtown. Test him. See where he is physically.

That does not mean Celtic should sign him. A training opportunity is one thing. Giving a contract to someone who has barely played for the best part of two years is another.

Bakayoko once played at a level Celtic could never normally buy

There is no question about Bakayoko’s pedigree. He was part of the Monaco side that won Ligue 1 in 2016/17 and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Bakayoko scored the goal that sent Monaco through against Manchester City after a remarkable last-16 tie and then Chelsea paid around £40m for him that summer.

He made 43 appearances during his first season in England and played the full FA Cup final as Chelsea beat Manchester United.

There were later spells with AC Milan, Monaco and Napoli, while Bakayoko was also part of Milan’s 2021/22 Serie A-winning squad. Celtic are not judging that player now.

Bakayoko is 32 and his recent football record looks completely different.

Bakayoko’s last competitive appearance came in November 2024

Bakayoko last played for PAOK against Olympiacos on 10 November 2024 and he managed just 45 minutes. His Greek league spell produced four appearances and only 204 minutes.

He later returned to the PAOK bench against Volos in January 2025 but did not play. He has not made a competitive appearance since.

That leaves Celtic looking at a player who has gone almost 23 months without proper football. His old strengths make that gap even harder to ignore.

Bakayoko was at his best when he could impose himself physically in midfield. Strength, aggression, mobility and ball-winning were a huge part of his game.

Celtic have already been asking more defensive work from their midfielders, with Mika Baur’s role under O’Neill showing how much more is being demanded without the ball.

A midfielder with Bakayoko’s old qualities would certainly have a use but nobody knows if he can still has that in him.

Bakayoko says he is ready to play again

Bakayoko has been working towards another chance. Speaking to Foot Mercato on 31 August, he said he had been training every day for months with his own physical coach.

His work has included fitness sessions, ball work, recovery and close attention to his diet. Bakayoko also claimed he feels physically better now than during some of the strongest years of his career.

He said: “I’ve still got hunger. Hunger for the pitch, hunger to play and for the ball.”

Celtic should make him show it. Working alone or with a personal coach is not the same as training every day with a first-team squad. It does not show how he deals with repeated physical contact, quick transitions or the demands of a full training week.

Lennoxtown would.

Bakayoko should have to earn a Celtic contract

There is no need for Celtic to rush into anything. If Bakayoko comes in, trains well and handles the physical work, then O’Neill can make a proper judgement. If he struggles, Celtic walk away.

His old clubs and past achievements should not earn him a contract. Neither should the £40m Chelsea once paid for him.

The only thing that matters is whether Bakayoko can still play at the level Celtic need now.

Until he proves that, Celtic should look at him and stop there.