Former Celtic defensive target Edson Alvarez is on the verge of a move to UEFA Champions League stand-outs Ajax.
ESPN Deportes reported last month that the Hoops had tried to sign the player for $6.5m (£5.2m) in December but that the figure didn’t meet the Mexican side’s valuation.
Could Celtic have gone the extra mile to get a deal over the line and secure the player’s future before he attracted the attention of elite sides in Europe?
The club have since made a move for Christopher Jullien, signed for a reported £7m, so obviously feel comfortable splashing the cash for the right centre-back.
The Hoops still badly need a central defender after the departures of Dedrcyk Boyata and Filip Benkovic.
Jozo Simunovic and Kristoffer Ajer are available but Neil Lennon’s side could play more than 60 games over the coming season meaning that depth is a massive priority.
De Telegraaf reckon that Alvarez has been earmarked as Matthijs De Ligt’s replacement, telling you that he has the kind of quality that could have gone down a treat in the Scottish Premiership.
With experience of winning trophies both at club and international level and still just 21, he could have been the missing piece of the defensive puzzle at Celtic.
Now set to join a side who can compete in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League, a few extra million may have seen the Bhoys land a player who not only has exceptional ability but strong resale value.
It’s a hostile transfer market out there for the recruitment team at Celtic Park and identifying exceptional talents before richer clubs move in is critical.
Celtic have success in that department having brought Virgin van Dijk and Victor Wanyama amongst others to prominence in British football over the last few years, but Alvarez appears to be the one that got away.
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