CELTIC signing target Vakoun Issouf Bayo is capable of emulating Moussa Dembele by scoring goals in Scotland and winning a move to a major club in Europe, according to Parkhead great Lubomir Moravcik.

The double treble winners have identified Bayo, the Ivorian striker who currently plays for Dunajska Streda in Slovakia, as a player they would like to sign during the January transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers, whose side was beaten 1-0 by Rangers in a Ladbrokes Premiership match at Ibrox on Saturday, has made bringing in two centre forwards his priority during the coming month.

Rodgers lost Dembele on the final day of the summer transfer window when the Frenchman signed for Lyon in a £20 million move. He is, too, currently without Leigh Griffiths, who has taken an extended break from football to address personal issues.

Rodgers was forced to field Mikey Johnston, a 19-year-old winger, up front at the weekend as Odsonne Edouard, his record £9 million summer signing, had failed to recover fully from an abductor injury.

The loan signing of Timothy Weah, the American teenager who is currently on the books at French giants Paris Saint-Germain, looks set to be completed in the coming days. The son of former Ballon d'Or winner George will agree a six month deal.

However, Lee Congerton, the head of recruitment at Celtic, has also identified Bayo, who would cost the Scottish champions in the region of £2 million, as a player who could increase Rodgers’ options in attack.

Moravcik has been impressed by the 21-year-old’s displays in his homeland this season and believes he would be a good signing.

"When Moussa Dembele came to Celtic he was nobody," he said. "After two years he moved to Lyon for £20 million. I think Bayo can do the same – come from nowhere, play well at Celtic and then move on to a top club in England or elsewhere in Europe."