Celtic transfer ‘faces investigation’ as Brendan Rodgers dealt early headache

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers could be dealt a transfer setback, with Ismaila Soro’s exit reportedly under threat. Although the Ivory Coast international had agreed a move to Valenciennes, the French FA have been tipped to get involved with the deal after an agent was ‘illegally dismissed’. Soro was snapped up by Celtic in 2020, but he never managed to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Arouca in Portugal, and it seems as though he has no future back in Glasgow. With that in mind, Soro found an escape route with Ligue 2 side Valenciennes. However, Foot Mercato claim that the deal has hit problems due to the dismissal of the player’s agent. Reports indicate that the Valenciennes sporting director instead hired an English intermediary to assist with the move, which is an ‘illegal practice’ in France. Brendan Rodgers could see Ismaila Soro return to Celtic (Image: GETTY) As a result, the dismissed agent is entitled to lodge a complaint and the FFF have been deemed ‘likely’ to investigate the transfer. Valenciennes have been approached by Express Sport for comment. Celtic would not be legally implicated in the fiasco, but it would land Soro back on their books. Rodgers and his transfer team would therefore have to spend more of the summer trying to find the midfielder a new home, providing the Valenciennes move cannot be revived. Ismaila Soro had agreed to join French side Valenciennes (Image: Getty) Rogers staggeringly won two consecutive domestic trebles while in charge of Celtic between 2016 and 2019. He then led Leicester to fifth place in the Premier League in 2020/21. The Northern Irishman’s second spell at Parkhead got off to the perfect start on Saturday as he oversaw a 4-2 victory over Ross County, with David Turnbull scoring twice.