One down, at Celtic, three to go.
HITC reported on Tuesday that the Scottish Premiership champions were hoping to get a trio of targets through the door before the window closes this week.
And, with Alex Valle putting pen to paper following his arrival on loan from Barcelona, Celtic are 33 per cent closer to improving Brendan Rodgers’ mood.
Valle, the Spain Under 20 left-back, joins to provide some much-needed competition for Greg Taylor on the flank. Next through the door – should all things go to plan – will be either Arne Engels or Mateusz Bogusz.
HITC understands that Celtic are set to submit a new bid for Augsburg utility man Engels. The Bundesliga outfit could hold out for £12.5 million, meaning The Hoops will have to shatter their transfer record for the second time in the space of a few weeks following the return of Adam Idah.
Talks with MLS outfit Los Angeles FC for Mateusz Bogusz, meanwhile, are ongoing. The former Leeds United starlet could cost a further £8 million. An expensive week ahead for Celtic, then, but nothing they cannot afford after the sale of Matt O’Riley to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Celtic sign Barcelona’s Alex Valle as efforts increase
Though while Valle is through the door, and while Engels and Bogusz remain very active subjects, one player who will not be arriving in Glasgow is Tanner Tessmann.
Celtic were thrown into the mix by Italian reporter Gianluca di Marzio a few weeks ago, with the America international keen to leave Venezia after playing a starring role in their promotion to Serie A.
Tessmann is now officially a Lyon player, however. The French giants have secured a deal which, according to Get France Football News, could eventually set them back £5 million.
Given O’Riley’s departure, a more advanced, attack-minded midfielder has emerged as Celtic’s top priority. Hence the interest in Engels, and the 17-goal Bogusz.
Tessmann, in contrast, is more of a deep-lying playmaker in the Callum McGregor mould.
Lyon boss Pierre Sage draws comparisons with Nemanja Matic, the former Les Gones veteran who established himself as one of the finest number sixes of his generation with Chelsea and Manchester United.
“First impressions are quite positive,” Sage tells the official Lyon website of America international Tessmann while rattling off a list of attributes which would have appealed to Brendan Rodgers too.
“He has the courage to play. He often asks for the ball, even under pressure. He will provide us with solutions over time and in the sequence of our matches.
“He is similar to Matic. He brings a lot of links between the lines. We feel that he has a real ability to play with others. He is also capable of scoring, especially with shots from distance, which will offer us other solutions.”
Brendan Rodgers preparing for Old Firm derby
Celtic face Rangers on Sunday in this season’s first Old Firm derby.
It remains to be seen if former Levante loanee Valle will be part of Rodgers’ squad, The Hoops boss excited about the technical qualities the youngster honed in Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy.
“His footballing style will complement our attacking play as well as giving us more options in our backline,” Rodgers tells the Celtic website.
‘Álex has been brought up in a real high-quality footballing environment learning all the good habits and skills associated with any top team. He is a player with some tremendous attributes.
“He has performed really well for Levante last season, been around Barcelona’s first team this year already, and he is a welcome and quality addition to our squad.”
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