Fabrizio Romano has said that La Liga side Elche have reached an agreement to sign FC Barcelona talent Alex Collado on loan, with Celtic reportedly interested in the 23-year-old midfielder.
The Italian journalist took to Twitter to confirm that Collado has a full agreement with Elche to sign for the Spanish club on loan for the season, with Celtic missing out on the La Masia graduate after being strongly linked to the Barcelona youngster over the past few weeks.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1558521315086274561
Ange Postecoglou has had a rather quiet window compared to the madness of last summer, with the Australian manager this year working on making loan deals from last season permanent with Alexandro Bernabei and Aaron Mooy the Hoops’ only major new arrivals in the past few months, with Collado now seemingly off the market.
A product of Barcelona’s famed academy, the attacking midfielder could have been an exciting addition for Celtic ahead of their return to the UEFA Champions League group stages, though it appears that Xavi Hernandez’s side have taken a different approach to Collado’s development with the youngster now set to sign for Elche on loan.
Hailed as a player with similar traits to Barcelona’s greatest ever player, Lionel Messi, it makes sense why Celtic were eager to bring Collado to Glasgow this summer, with depth in the midfielder as well as in the attack more than welcome for Postecoglou’s side this season.
However, the Hoops will have to look for alternatives this summer with Elche on the brink of signing Collado for the season, yet given Postecoglou’s incredible eye for talent, this could be a lot quicker and easier than many supporters and pundits expect.
Celtic will find alternative for Elche loan signing Collado this summer
Postecoglou’s signing record at Celtic has been incredible, to say the least, and whilst missing out on Collado to Elche is a blow, the Australian manager will no doubt have another trick up his sleeve in the coming weeks if the Hoops are to make one last new addition this summer.
Indeed, with Champions League football on the cards, the Scottish giants have a good chance at making a big statement signing before the closure of the window, and for Postecoglou, the Celtic boss has the knowledge to bring in another unlikely hero and turn them into a superstar in Glasgow.
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