Scottish Premiership champions Celtic were surprisingly linked with Uruguay’s World Cup attacker Giorgian de Arrascaeta during the summer transfer window.
Celtic were involved in one of the most eye-catching World Cup transfer stories this summer. And we are not talking about Dedryck Boyata and his ever-changing list of suitors.
According to the Sun, the Scottish Premiership champions were interested in Uruguay’s World Cup quarter-finalist Giorgian de Arrascaeta. It was claimed that manager Brendan Rodgers instructed scouts to watch him in action for Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro last season.
So far, so normal. De Arrascaeta is a gifted and exciting attacking midfielder who would give Celtic, and Scottish football as a whole, a dash of real star quality.
But it was the price-tag that caught the eye. The Sun claimed that De Arrascaeta would cost £18 million – double Celtic’s current transfer record. At the time, it seemed unrealistic that the Hoops would pay so much for one player.
Now, however, things could be different. Moussa Dembele left for Lyon on deadline day and Celtic had no time to reinvest their £20 million windfall.
As a result, they have a lot of funds to play with heading into the January transfer window. Celtic would arguably be better off signing a number of players to fill the gaps in Rodgers’ squad, but smashing their transfer record for De Arrascaeta instead would be a real statement of intent after a disappointing summer.
The 24-year-old has had a terrific start to the season, scoring three goals and setting up five more in nine starts for Cruzeiro, not to mention being nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award for a physics-defying volley.
His arrival could also reinforce Celtic’s position as the top dogs of Scottish football, putting Hearts and Rangers back in their place.
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