Tiémoué Bakayoko Doing A Celtic Medical? We’ve Been Here Before…
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
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Well, well, well.
Just when you thought Celtic Twitter couldn’t produce another transfer rumour, Tiémoué Bakayoko is back.
Rumours are doing the rounds that the former Chelsea and Monaco midfielder is supposedly undergoing a medical ahead of a move to Celtic.
And my first thought was simple:
Haven’t we been here before?
Because we have.
So this isn’t some completely random name appearing out of nowhere.
There was actually something in it.
But does that mean he’s now sitting in a medical room somewhere in Glasgow?
Not necessarily.
And at the moment, I can’t find anything credible confirming that he is.
A Physical Midfielder Is Too Obvious For Us To Pull It Off
We’ve been desperate for Celtic to strengthen.
We’ve been crying out for physicality in midfield.
We’ve watched the squad get weaker in certain areas and then spent weeks wondering whether the board are actually going to do anything about it.
So somebody says:
“Bakayoko medical.”
And suddenly we’re all interested.
Of course we are.
Because we want something to happen.
We want Celtic to make a signing that actually addresses a problem.
Until there is something credible behind this latest rumour, I’m treating it as nonsense.
BAKAYOKO IS A VERY DIFFERENT PLAYER TO OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
This is actually the interesting part.
When Celtic had the opportunity to sign Bakayoko earlier this year, the club ultimately went for Oxlade-Chamberlain instead.
That was reportedly a choice based on the type of midfielder Martin O’Neill wanted, with Bakayoko offering more defensive strength and physicality while Oxlade-Chamberlain offered greater attacking threat and ball progression.
So if Celtic have genuinely gone back to Bakayoko now, it would suggest something has changed.
Maybe the midfield needs have changed.
Maybe O’Neill has changed his thinking.
Maybe the club simply sees an opportunity in the free-agent market.
Or maybe…
it’s just another rumour on social media.
BUT I’LL SAY THIS…
If Celtic are genuinely looking at Bakayoko again, I can understand why.
We’ve been screaming for more physicality.
We’ve been screaming for somebody capable of putting their foot in.
We’ve been screaming for a midfielder who can give us something different.
Bakayoko has played at Monaco, Chelsea, AC Milan, Napoli and PAOK and has a wealth of experience. He is also currently without a club, having left PAOK in 2025.
So it’s not the craziest idea in the world.
But he’s also 32 now.
He’s been out of the game for more than a year.
And we’re talking about a player Celtic almost signed months ago before deciding to go in another direction.
So if the club genuinely wants him now, I’d want to know why.
Is this a carefully considered football decision?
Or are we simply scrambling around for whatever is available?
Because those are two very different things.
WE CANNOT KEEP DOING THIS
This is the bigger issue.
Celtic cannot spend another post transfer window relying on panic decisions.
If Bakayoko is the player O’Neill wants and the medical is genuine, then brilliant.
Get him in and get him competing.
But if this is simply another name being thrown around because Celtic need a midfielder, then let’s not pretend we’ve suddenly solved anything.
The squad needs proper planning.
Not “we’ll see what’s available.”
Not “maybe this guy can do a job.”
Proper recruitment.
Identify the problem, the player and get the deal done.
It’s really not that complicated.
SO, IS BAKAYOKO COMING?
At the moment?
No.
And considering Celtic were genuinely close to signing him earlier this year before choosing Oxlade-Chamberlain, there is at least some history behind the rumour, so it could happen in the future.
So until we hear something credible, I’m not getting carried away.
We’ve had enough “done deals” that weren’t done.
Enough “medicals” that never happened.
Enough “announcement imminent” nonsense.
If Tiémoué Bakayoko really is coming to Celtic, I’ll happily welcome him.
If he’s not?
Well…
I don’t think I’d be that upset.
Key Takeaways
- Rumours suggest Tiémoué Bakayoko is undergoing a medical for a move to Celtic, but credible confirmation is lacking.
- Celtic previously considered signing Bakayoko before opting for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, indicating the club’s interest in physical midfielders.
- The need for a more physical midfielder remains, yet Celtic’s recruitment strategy needs careful planning, not panic decisions.
- If Bakayoko is the target, the motivation behind the decision is crucial; it should be a calculated choice rather than a last-minute fix.
- As of now, Bakayoko’s transfer to Celtic is unconfirmed; previous rumours have often not materialised.
