There was to be no debut strike for new Celtic man Tomas Cvancara, although the Czech striker’s display stood out as a real positive in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Tynecastle.
A quiet first-half was followed by a far more impactful second, with the 25-year-old coming agonisingly close to notching a first in green and white, after seeing his well-guided header strike the woodwork from Benjamin Nygren’s cross.
Just minutes later, clever interplay with Daizen Maeda saw the on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach man burst in behind the Hearts defence, before calmly picking out Yang Hyun-jun at the backpost to tap home.
Subsequently celebrating as if he’d scored himself, Cvancara delighted in his first involvement for the Glasgow side, with there certainly plenty to be encouraged by for Martin O’Neill and co.
That said, with Callum Osmand injured, Kelechi Iheanacho only just returning, and Shin Yamada having been shipped out on loan, further reinforcements could well still be needed.
Celtic ready to revive interest in another striker after Cvancara
The major priority, following the loan capture of Cvancara, appears to be the signing of a new right-sided winger, with rumours rife regarding Celtic’s interest in Frosinone’s Fares Ghedjemis.
That being said, talk of another striker ending up at Parkhead has been quelled as yet, with Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise still seemingly on the agenda, albeit with rivals Rangers also in the mix for his signature. Meanwhile, they are also allegedly in talks to sign Freiburg forward Junior Adamu before Monday’s deadline.
Looking away from those two names, reports in France, via the Daily Record, have indicated that the Hoops have now revived their interest in Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana, having been linked with a move for the 23-year-old through the window.
The Ivorian – who was also a summer target for Brendan Rodgers – has been recalled from a promising loan spell at Turkish side Fatih Karagümrük, with his parent club believed to be looking for a permanent departure before the window closes.
There is the suggestion that Fofana could be used as part of a swap deal involving Rennes’ starlet, Jeremy Jacquet, although Celtic appear to still be in the mix, amid prior claims they were readying a bid for the in-demand striker.
Why Fofana signing would be bad news for Cvancara
Part of the reason behind Celtic’s ability to land Cvancara from Gladbach was due to his recent woes both in Germany and in Turkey, having not actually featured since November amid an underwhelming spell at Antalyaspor.
That brief stint saw the 6 foot 3 attacker score just twice in 13 games, after netting just eight times in 54 games back at Gladbach, with the Hoops hardly landing a player with real momentum behind him
Fofana, it must be said, has endured his own period of turbulence amid a string of loan spells away from Stamford Bridge, having actually only made four first-team appearances for the Blues after signing in January 2023.
Unlike Cvancara, however, he has at least been in a rich vein of form this season, with his own spell in the Super Lig yielding eight goals in 15 total games, a far better record than the Czech international enjoyed.
Fofana has then found his mojo again, looking back to the level of talent who caught Chelsea’s attention in the first place, after scoring 24 goals in 65 games for Norwegian side, Molde.
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Cvancara vs Fofana – 25/26 Super Lig |
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|---|---|---|
|
Stat (*per game) |
||
|
Games |
11 |
13 |
|
Starts |
6 |
10 |
|
Goals |
1 |
6 |
|
Assists |
0 |
0 |
|
Big chances missed |
2 |
7 |
|
Big chances created |
0 |
2 |
|
Key passes* |
0.09 |
0.7 |
|
Successful dribbles* |
0.5 |
1.9 |
|
Total duels won* |
44% |
36% |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
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It was during that early career hot streak that he was dubbed a “complete centre-forward” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the respected insider even likening him to former Inter and Barcelona great, Samuel Eto’o at the time.
It’s been a rocky road since then, although this is a player who still boasts an excitingly high ceiling, having cost his parent club a fee of around £10m, at the age of just 20.
Not just a goalscorer too, Fofana does also possess real quality when dropping deeper or drifting out wide, averaging an impressive 1.9 successful dribbles per game in 2025/26, far beyond Cvancara’s own return of just 0.5.
A player capable of the spectacular, as he showed in glimpses during his time on loan at Burnley, Fofana could be that injection of pace and power that O’Neill’s frontline is crying out for, thus instantly reducing Cvancara to understudy status.
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