We’re into the final days of the summer transfer window and Celtic have multiple positions to strengthen across Brendan Rodgers’ team.
One of those is at left-back where Greg Taylor is currently the only recognised senior option.
The situation was summed up on Sunday during the 3-0 win over St Mirren when right-back Anthony Ralston was substituted on in place of his Scotland international teammate.
Hugo Bueno, Owen Beck and Owen Wijndal have all been linked with a switch to Glasgow over the last few months but the real contender to arrive at Celtic Park came out of the blue on Sunday night.
Alex Valle travels for Celtic medical
Fabrizio Romano reports that young Barcelona talent Alex Valle is travelling to Scotland today with his agent to undergo a medical and become Celtic’s fifth signing this summer.
Sky Sports, meanwhile, have reported that the reigning Scottish champions will pay Barcelona a £1.3m loan fee for his services.
It’s said that Valle has signed a new one-year extension to his Barcelona contract ahead of the switch.
No buy option in Valle Celtic deal
Crucially, it’s also stated that Celtic won’t hold a buy option in the loan, which is never ideal.
The Bhoys have a decent track record of loan-to-buy successes including Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Paulo Bernardo in recent years.
However, no option either means we are developing another club’s talent for their benefit or we end up in a protracted transfer saga like the one with Adam Idah this year.
Nonetheless, there will be hope that Valle has the talent required to perform at a first-team level immediately. He isn’t going to be coming here just to sit on the bench every week without minutes.
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