Celtic can land Rodgers’ next Vardy with move for 6ft 1 gem who’s “on absolute flames” – opinion

There’s no denying that Scottish champions Celtic have underperformed this season, with Japanese marksman Kogo Furuhashi appearing to be hurting after former manager Ange Postecoglou left during the summer.

Previous to Brendan Rodgers taking over in the dugout, the 29-year-old had scored ‘only’ 11 goals in 30 appearances in just 83 games while playing for Glasgow on a £4.6 million contract in 2021.

Even if it’s not a bad return, the former Vissel Kobe player’s eight Premiership goals are far less than his league-winning total of 27 from the previous season. He has only scored twice in his last nine top-flight games for the Old Firm giants.

Rodgers insisted last month that he hasn’t asked the small marksman any different questions than Postecoglou had previously, so it’s still unclear why the £19k-per-week speedster isn’t playing at his best right now.

The lack of depth in the attacking department after Oh Hyeon-gyu left to play for his nation in the Asian Cup has only made those worries worse, as Kyogo is the only other senior center-forward option left in the Hoops’ lineup. Oh Hyeon-gyu is a South Korean star.

This has made it necessary to prioritize finding a new number nine before the transfer window closes, and Parkhead appears to be interested in one young player in particular.

Celtic want to sign the next Jamie Vardy

With just one week remaining in the transfer window, the Glasgow team is reportedly “focusing efforts” on acquiring a new left-back and striker, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph. They have already paid £3 million to recruit Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna.

Tommy Conway of Bristol City is one possible attacking target that the team may be eyeing; according to a report from Football Insider last week, Celtic is one of the suitors who are “tracking” the England-born Scotland U21 international.

With just 18 months remaining on his present contract at Ashton Gate, the 21-year-old—who is also being watched by Rangers—may be compelled to cash in soon rather than allowing his transfer worth to decline.

Given that former Bristol manager Nigel Pearson compared the 6′ 1″ striker to Leicester City idol Jamie Vardy, he may become Aaron Rodgers’ next big thing if the league leaders make a late move for him.

How Tommy Conway compares to Jamie Vardy

In addition to his ability to score goals, Conway’s admission that he is a striker who usually tries to “go in behind” and stretch defenses may be the reason Pearson “compares” the young player to Vardy.

That is undoubtedly a fascinating parallel that would have attracted Rodgers’ attention, as the Northern Irishman had a productive working relationship with Vardy while managing Leicester after leaving Celtic to join the Foxes in 2019.

The seasoned striker scored an incredible 70 goals and provided an additional 30 assists in 157 games under the former Liverpool manager. The Midlands team went on to win their first FA Cup in 2021.

Vardy flourished as the focal point of attack at the King Power Stadium, and it’s possible that young Conway was able to do the same at Celtic Park. A player who obviously blended in well with Rodgers’ style of play, the current Celtic manager having called him a “icon”

The Hoops were previously linked with an interest in the impressive forward.

There had been hopes that Kyogo could be a “younger, faster” version of Vardy for Rodgers to work with – according to pundit Frank McAvennie – yet amid the 5 foot 7 dynamo’s recent woes, Conway could threaten his place in the side if a deal is to be agreed.

As Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie stated back in 2022, the Taunton-born hotshot has been “on absolute flames” in the Championship of late, with it no surprise that he is generating interest from a raft of elite clubs.

Tommy Conway’s season in numbers

Conway has scored eight goals in 23 games in all competitions, including six goals in 21 Championship appearances, while occasionally being hindered by injury this season.

The Bristol Academy alumnus has drawn special attention this month, though, thanks to his performances in the FA Cup. He helped his team advance to the competition’s Fourth Round by scoring two goals in as many games against West Ham United, a Premier League powerhouse.

After scoring an incredible equalizer at the London Stadium, the former Bath City loanee first assisted in forcing a replay of the match by breaking through the Hammers’ defense and finishing with a shot that Vardy himself would have been proud of.

Subsequently, Conway scored the game’s winning goal for the Championship team, beating the opposition 1-0 at home after the latter made a defensive error. Conway then passed into an empty net from an angle.

The ability to capitalize on that mistake and the dexterity to seize the moment will have further reinforced the comparisons to Vardy, as the Premier League winner was referred to as a “pest” by former Leicester City coach Craig Shakespeare because of his movement in the closing third.

Rodgers will be fully aware just what a ‘pest’ Vardy truly was in his pomp, hence the wisdom in snapping up his heir apparent to provide genuine competition to Kyogo at Parkhead.

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