Ange Postecoglou’s search for a right-back looks like ending today with the transfer of Aurelio Buta being finalised.
The new Celtic boss identified right-back as one of his transfer priorities with the 24-year-old former Benfica kid about to become Celtic’s fourth signing.
There doesn’t seem much prospect of Buta playing in Saturday’s SPFL opener away to Hearts but after such slow progress it seems that the turnover of players is underway.
Belgian website Walfoot reports:
The Portuguese defender from Antwerp played his last meeting for the Great Old on the lawn of Mechelen.
Aurélio Buta , 24-year-old Portuguese defender from Antwerp, will be leaving our league. According to our information, he will join Celtic for a cheque of 3.5 million. The transfer will be official during the day.
Buta arrived in Belgium in July 2018 from Benfica. He will have played 108 games for the club, giving 19 assists and scoring 2 goals.
In January Celtic sold Jeremie Frimpong and Hatem Abd Elhamed with Jonjoe Kennon coming in on loan as a replacement right-back.
Despite knowing that the club was badly lacking in that area it has taken until six matches of the new season to bring in a time served options.
Tony Ralston looks like playing against Midtjylland tomorrow night with Osaze Urhoghide and Lee O’Connor failing to impress Postecoglou in the matches to date.
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