Report: Celtic at the forefront of clubs interested in Liga Portugal midfielder

By David Walton

June 19, 2022

Celtic are at the front of the pack of the clubs interested in signing Vitoria de Guimaraes midfielder Alfa Semedo, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.

The report states that Semedo will be allowed to leave the Liga Portugal club this summer despite his contract running until the summer of 2026.

Semedo made 31 appearances for the club last season, with the 24-year-old operating in a defensive-midfield role [Transfermarkt]. Celtic are in the market for a new midfielder this summer after the departures of Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton respectively.

The former Benfica starlet does already have experience of football in the UK after previously playing for Nottingham Forest and Reading in the Championship during respective loan spells.

Semedo has been capped 8 times by Guinea-Bassau, making his debut for his international team back in March 2021.

However, it remains to be seen how much Vitoria would want for a player still contracted to the club for another 3 years.

Celtic linked with several defensive-midfielders as summer kicks in

It’s yet another example of Celtic being linked with a defensive-midfielder as the evidence of us looking for a Bitton piles up further.

Indeed, Semedo isn’t the only holding midfielder we’ve been linked with. The likes of Kevin N’Doram, Vinicius Souza, and Mohammed Abu Fani are others who have been reportedly interesting the Hoops. This certainly looks like a priority for Ange Postecoglou.

With Celtic entering the UEFA Champions League group stages this season, it’s imperative we give the defence more protection than it currently has. After all, have we truly replaced Scott Brown since he left last summer?

Ange effectively got through last season without committing to much protection in front of his defence. Callum McGregor dropped a touch deeper whilst Bitton was brought on often to see games through. But it’s going to be a totally different ball-game against Europe’s elite.

Ange will stick to his principles – that we know. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to be tactically inflexible. He can’t afford to think that way or else Celtic will be in trouble against anyone in the competition.

Our search for a defensive-midfielder shows you what direction the Celtic boss is looking to go down here. Hopefully, whether it’s Semedo or one of the alternatives, we can get something done soon.

In other news, Former Celtic defender retires; now coaching at Scott Brown’s club