Reported Celtic target Francisco Ortega would cost just under £3.4m to sign from Velez Sarsfield, according to Portuguese outlet Ojogo.
The report states that Benfica are keen on the left-back too, with sporting director Rui Pedro Braz apparently already in Argentina as he looks to strengthen his club’s options.
Ojogo claims that Benfica will follow up their interest by contacting Sarsfield, who are said to value the player at €4m [£3.37m]. It comes with the Daily Mail reporting that Celtic have received positive scouting reports on the Argentina under-23 international.
Celtic are in desperate need for some healthy competition with Greg Taylor this summer. Ortega has played just under 100 games for Velez Sarsfield and has 2 international caps at under-23 level [Transfermarkt].
The Hoops will need to be prepared to sink some money into a new left-back this summer. Many believe it’s a position that needs to be upgraded.
Boli Bolingoli and Liam Scales have failed to challenge for the jersey this season, and Taylor will be expecting a lot stiffer competition next year.
Francisco Ortega wouldn’t be the dearest option for Celtic
This certainly looks as though it comes into the realms of affordability for Celtic. Given qualification to the UCL has been secured, this should be a more than achievable deal to complete.
Of course, Ortega isn’t the only left-back Celtic have been linked with heading into the summer. We’ve also reportedly been keen on Mohanad Jeahze of Hammarby [Expressen].
What that means is that this is clearly an area the club feels strongly about heading into the summer break. That’s absolutely vital. We don’t want any gaps this term given how much of a risk we took last season in certain positions.
It wasn’t really until the January transfer window when we strengthened with 4 further acquisitions that the squad started looking a lot better balanced. But even so, there remain areas that need a higher quality of player in there.
Left-back is certainly one of them. Whether Ortega or Jeahze would be the right man to slot into our squad? Time will tell.
Supporters will just feel at ease knowing it’s something the club is clearly looking at.
In other news, Celtic hero Josip Juranovic’s heart-warming Instagram message to Artur Boruc
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