Youssef El Kachati

Celtic are tracking Moroccan forward Youssef El Kachati as they look to bolster their options in attack for next season.

Currently plying his trade for Telstar in the second tier in Holland, El Kachati has fired 23 goals this season and found the net in his team’s play-off against Den Bosch on Friday nigh



The 25-year-old is attracting interest from across Europe and, although capable of playing out wide, has tended to do most of his best work when playing through the middle as a striker.

El Kachati has represented Morocco at Under-23 level but has yet to break through and win a cap for the senior side.

Out of contract in the summer, he is set to be available on a free transfer and Celtic are understood to have been watching him over the past few months.

Brendan Rodgers will look to add a striker in the summer transfer window to complement Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.




Maeda has been crowned PFA Player of the Year in Scotland after a stunning season which saw him fire 33 goals in all competitions.

Idah was signed for £9million last summer and, although he hasn’t yet lived up to top billing, Celtic are keen to continue his development next season.


Celtic were strongly linked with Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden back in January and it is expected that Rodgers will be backed once again in the summer market.


Even if they were to sign El Kachati on a free transfer, they would still be expected to go and spend big on another centre-forward for an assault on the Champions League next season.

 

No, if we get this guy, that'll be that for strikers. Rodgers doesn't really like to play 2 up top.

 

That sounds like an ointment you get for the itch

 

short video from 5 months ago

 

Underwhelming.

 

I took a gander at Transfermarkt and here are his are his stats for this season (he still has two games to play - more on that below):




…And his career stats to date:




I would suppose that his stats for his previous club, Quick Boys, and his current side, Telstar, are the most relevant (although from what I gather Sparta Rotterdam’s U21s were playing in the same division as Quick Boys, so I guess you could factor that in as well). Quick Boys are an * side plying their trade in the Dutch 3rd tier, while his current club, Telstar, are in the 2nd tier - although they’re about to take part in the playoff final for promotion into the Eredivisie.

He’s scored 19 goals during the current league campaign, and during the playoffs he’s chipped in with another 3 - making him the second highest scoring player in the league (the top scorer was 34 year old Henk Veerman, with 26 goals).

Something that’s also maybe worth mentioning is that he’s picked up 9 yellow cards this season. Whether that’s because he likes to get a bit physical, or he likes a dive, I don’t know.



It’s obviously at a low(er) level, and I know people can be a bit sceptical of scoring records in the Dutch league (and that’s just in the top division, never mind the lower tiers), but I suppose I can still kinda see why we might be looking. He’s a free agent, an okay age (25, although he turns 26 in November), decent height (6ft 1), and he’s in form and producing numbers (again, albeit at a lower level).

We undeniably need quality signings for the starting XI (and strong bench options as well) but if he was being brought in as a speculative punt with the initial aim of being a sort of utility man across the front three/squad option (and given the potential shakeups to squad we might need some) with the hope that he maybe has the tools/potential to kick on at a higher level. It’s a bit devil’s advocate-y, I know, but I suppose he wouldn’t be the first guy where it’s just taken a little bit longer (and a lower level) for things to click.

 

Assuming we're still going out and spending on a more proven Kvistgaarden level player I've no problem taking a punt adding someone like this to the squad if they're on a free. Could be *, could be a late bloomer, GG couldn't buy a goal until just before we signed him, you never know.

 

Away and * Dutch 2nd tier.

 

No thanks. Absolutely not.

 

I'm wary enough signing players who've done well for a lower club in the Eredivisie, let alone the second division over there.

Dylan Vente scored a similar amount and then flopped at Hibernian, this guy is older than when Vente did get all those goals too.

I know the bottom of the article says we plan on spending big on a ST even if we brought this guy in, which is good if true, but in that regard who would he be replacing?

 

Kenny i assume. But would this guy be any better. The Dutch top tier has some good teams but a lot of guff, I can't imagine their second tier is good and Vente is a good example.

 

No Ciftci no party

 

Actually quite an impressive video..

I appreciate the standard isn't great but you can clearly see his attributes....

Fairly quick and a decent bit of acceleration
Good outside the box and a ball carrier
Good back to goal
Can beat a man
Some excellent finishes and all types
A nice first touch in plenty of those
Can link the play and work the channels
Looks strong

On a free he'd be a very good 3rd choice type option and something different to what we have. Bit unpredictable as well. Loved that assist at 7:55..

Would without doubt get goals for us domestically when called upon. Natural goalscorer. Good penalties as well..

 

Not far off from 1 goal every 2 games. We could do worse than sign him.

 

On a free its a no brainer but we need a top rate striker also otherwise it will be * carnage come the window closing