Brendan Rodgers has just made Celtic fans very, very excited.
Just last week, Hoops supporters might have been asking “Who?” when news broke of the club’s decision to sign unheralded teenage Ivorian Kouassi Eboue.
The Krasnodar midfielder does not possess what one would call a household name but Rodgers will have left those same doubtful fans salivating at the youngster’s potential as he has compared Eboue to a few players who have developed into superstars under Rodgers’ watchful gaze.
“He is one of those young players I look at with the same feeling I had as when I saw a young Coutinho or a young Sterling. Within 10 seconds you see his talent,” Rodgers said of Eboue while speaking to the Evening Times.
TRANSFER NEWS
FC Krasnodar midfielder Koussi Eboue has arrived in Glasgow for talks about a potential move to @celticfc. @SkySportsNewsHQ— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 4, 2017
“He is one, obviously, the scouting team have been aware of. Most coaches see something in a player that suits their way of working.
“But there are certain attributes in a young player you can see and you get a good feeling. This boy has that.”
That’s high praise indeed from the former Liverpool boss, who cultivated the talents of both Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling while on Merseyside.
Coutinho moved to Anfield as a 20-year-old after his performances for Inter Milan impressed the manager while Sterling was promoted from youth team prospect to regular first team player by Rodgers during his debut season as Liverpool manager.
Coutinho has since developed into one of the most reliable midfielders in the Premier League while Sterling moved to current side Manchester City for almost £50 million last season.
It can therefore be considered a significant compliment from Rodgers to discuss his latest acquisition in such glowing terms but, if we could offer one word of advice for young Eboue, it would be to leave any attitude at home before crossing Brodge in training.
