Celtic want Alfa Semedo and are now allegedly leading the race to sign the midfielder from Vitoria Guimaraes this summer.
Celtic have seen both Nir BItton and Tom Rogic leave the club this summer.
Ange Postecoglou does have midfield options with the likes of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Yosuke Ideguchi, James McCarthy and David Turnbull at his disposal.
Yet a pure holding midfielder could be wanted after Bitton’s exit and Lommel’s Vinicius Souza has been a prime rumour of late.
Now though, it’s Semedo being linked with a move to Celtic.
Celtic want Alfa Semedo
Portuguese newspaper A Bola report that a host of clubs want to sign Semedo this summer.
Yet it’s Celtic allegedly leading the race as they look to add another midfielder to Postecoglou’s ranks.
Semedo, 24, was seen as a major prospect with Moreirense and was snapped up by Benfica in 2018.
The 6ft 2in anchor man was a teammate of Jota at Benfica and the pair could reunite at Parkhead next season.
That would of course depend on Celtic securing Jota permanently and signing Semedo, but the pair will know each other.
Semedo failed to really nail down a regular starting role at Benfica though and was loaned out three times; first to Espanyol, then Nottingham Forest and Reading in the Championship.
Benfica cut their losses last summer by offloading Seemed to Portuguese rivals Vitoria.
Semedo played 26 league games this past season and now appears to have caught the eye of Celtic’s recruitment team.
A Guinea-Bissau international with eight caps to his name, Semedo is a strong and combative defensive midfield.
Semedo blew hot and cold with Forest and Reading but Celtic may now feel that this season of action with Vitoria has really aided his development.
It’s unclear who else wants Semedo or how much he would cost, but Semedo is now a name for Celtic fans to keep an eye on.
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