Chris Sutton really did not pull any punches when, three weeks ago, he expressed his concerns over Celtic’s transfer market activity.
Or, in truth, a lack thereof.
At the time, Brendan Rodgers’ side had only secured one outfield signing. And that was Paulo Bernardo, the former loan star returning on a permanent basis from Benfica.
Sutton found it ‘baffling’ that Celtic had snapped up neither a centre-forward nor a left-back with glaring holes remaining in Rodgers’ roster, speaking to the Daily Record.
Flash forward to the final week of the window, however, and Sutton’s concerns have finally been addressed.
Adam Idah is back, brought in full-time in a deal which could become a club-record £9.5 million investment. And, for the first time since May, Celtic will soon have a left-back capable of easing the burden on an overworked Greg Taylor.
Celtic set to sign Barcelona left-back Alex Valle
Mundo Deportivo report that the Scottish Premiership champions are set to bring in Alex Valle on loan from Spanish giants Barcelona.
The Catalan-born 20-year-old – who honed his talents in Barca’s fabled La Masia academy – is set to sign a contract extension at the Camp Nou before joining Celtic on a straightforward loan deal with no buy option included.
Valle, Mundo Deportivo adds, should officially become a Hoops player before the close of play on Monday. He is reportedly travelling to Scotland before undergoing medical tests and signing his contract.
That may explain why the Spain Under 20 international was nowhere to be seen as Barcelona returned to the training pitch on Monday morning, per Sport on X.
This will be Valle’s third loan spell in three seasons, following stints with Andorra and Levante in the Spanish Segunda. The 5ft 10ins wideman featured in Hansi Flicks’s squad for both of Barcelona’s two La Liga games so far this term, although he did not get off the bench in either fixture.
An aggressive, forward-thinking full-back, Valle loves to make those trademark thrusting runs up the flank. His two-footedness has seen him line up on the right at times too, while Brendan Rodgers’ possession-heavy style should suit him well given his Blaugrana roots.
According to Sport, some have compared Valle to Chelsea ace and Spain’s Euro 2024 hero Marc Cucurella due to his ‘very strong mentality’ and his fierce competitive edge.
Matt O’Riley leaves Parkhead for Brighton
Celtic are set to bank around £30 million via the sale of Matt O’Riley to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Rodgers is hoping that windfall can be used to bring in further reinforcements, though the former Liverpool and Leicester City boss is making no secret of his frustration by the slow pace of Celtic’s work in the incomings department.
“I just hope we can at least get some of (the O’Riley fee),” Rodgers says, via Football Scotland, after Celtic’s 3-0 trouncing of St Mirren on Sunday.
“There are a number of things I won’t go into here. But (recruitment) is definitely something – having come back in and gone through three windows now – we have to put right as a football club.
“We shouldn’t have been getting into this last week in the position we’re in. That’s the reality.
“However, that’s something for us after this window. As I said, we’ll get the players in that we want. We don’t need to manufacture our own stress when there’s no need. We don’t need to do that. So we’ll be calm this week.
“We’ll look to get the players in that can strengthen us.”
HITC have been told that Celtic are in talks with the £8 million-rated Los Angeles FC ace Mateusz Bogusz. A left-footed attacking midfielder who likes to drift in from the right, the former Leeds United prospect could be the man tasked with replacing O’Riley.
A return to Glasgow for fan favourite Jota is also on the cards, while Celtic have also been linked with Augsburg man Arne Engels.
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