Celtic’s Scottish Premiership champion Olivier Ntcham could reportedly replace club legend Hector Herrera at Primeira Liga giants Porto.
FC Porto are about to bid farewell to one of their most influential players of the 21st century.
In six years at the Estadio do Dragao, Hector Herrera has made almost 250 appearances, scored 34 goals and captained the club to the 2017/18 Primeira Liga title. The Mexican international midfielder could repeat the trick this season with Porto fighting bitter rivals Benfica for the domestic crown.
But it seems that the 2018/19 campaign will be Herrera’s last in the famous blue and white shirt.
The 29-year-old is out of contract this summer and, according to ESPN, he is set to join Atletico Madrid. Needless to say, the man Porto sign to replace their 2015 Player of the Year will have his work cut out.
Enter Olivier Ntcham. According to the Scottish Sun, the Champions League quarter-finalists are still interested in signing Celtic’s classy Frenchman, having failed with a £14 million bid last summer.
Ntcham has been keen to take his chance at Porto for some time, as reported by O Jogo, but the one-time Manchester City youngster should not underestimate the challenge that will face him in Iberia.
Replacing a club captain, and a modern-day legend, is easier said than done after all. And with Ntcham’s form dipping alarmingly at times during his second season at Celtic, he will have to raise his game considerably if his move to Porto finally comes to fruition.
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