Stephen McGowan is reporting that Celtic are looking to sign Tiago Araujo when the January transfer window opens.
The 22-year-old left back is under contract with Estoril until May 2025, at six foot tall there is a clear difference in physicality to Greg Taylor, the current first choice left-back.
McGowan has a long track record of being very close to Celtic transfer activity with Brendan Rodgers stating at last week’s AGM the need to bring in quality with that point reinforced by an early exit from the Champions League.
Included in his match coverage from the defeat to Lazio in the Daily Mail, Rodgers reveals:
Admitting the need for more quality is now ‘glaring’, Rodgers wants to do a deal for £4million-rated left-sided Portuguese player Tiago Araujo in the January window.
A former Benfica B team-mate of ex-Hoops winger Jota and current loanee Paulo Bernardo, the 22-year-old signed for Estoril at the start of the season.
Capable of playing left-back and on the wing, Mail Sport understands the Under-21 international is a target the club are likely to pursue.
‘We want to bring in quality, especially at the top end of the field,’ said Rodgers after the defeat. ‘So that’s hopefully something that we can hope to resolve in the next couple of windows.
‘The players have gained more experience at this level and they have shown that they can compete in a lot of the games.
‘We need to add quality. That’s the glaring thing that stands out within the squad. If we can have players available and add to that then we can go again and push forward.’
Under Ange Postecoglou Celtic made signings in advance of the transfer window opening, Alistair Johnston made his debut at Ibrox on January 2.
This season the winter break starts on January 2 following a match away to St Mirren with the season resuming on the weekend of January 20 with a Scottish Cup tie at home to Buckie Thistle.
That should give new recruits the chance to bed into the club with the spotlight on Mark Lawwell to deliver the right quality of arrivals.
CLICK HERE for Araujo’s Transfermarkt profile.
30 points to play for before the transfer window open’s, let’s concentrate on getting maximum points in the games ahead….. the window will take care of itself….
HH
I wonder who the person is ‘behind closed doors ,’ who feeds the anti Celtic FC Scottish daily Mail and one of it’s scoops , important information regarding possible transfer players? Apart from not learning lessons in Europe , the boardroom obviously haven’t learned any lessons also about who our arch nemesis are in the SMSM ! Good god almighty , it’s as if we have blind Lemon Jefferson as part of the decision making process at board level !
Editor: Clue is that not one word of criticism over a former CEO ever appeared in the Daily Mail. Job done.
Spot on, it’s either the daily mail, the sun and occasionally the record. They are so out of touch with their customers. Tells us all we need to know. Self interested Tories
Off topic Editor…but..I was delighted to see that Mr.Desmond found time from his very busy schedule to meet Pope Francis…I suggest the Club now invite The Holy Father to the next AGM.
Edior: Poor Dermo, he probably had a sleepless night after the latest European humiliation, according to Little Boy Ross Daddy thinks about Celtic first thing in the morning and last thing at night, just a pity about that inbetween period.
Yes we have to build our left side with a phsyical players a defender taylor gives everything but his physicality does not help him in spl teams punt high balls to taylor even if he gets a touch its going out or in the air at corners and freekicks he is funerable motherwell like most spl park the bus some tv punters say organised there defence but its ruining spl we cant get sponsirs cause every game Celtic play home or away the come up against 5 4 1 and it ends up every man behind the ball time waisting is another big issue referees allow it and you can make your mind up why goalkeepers and players should be told in dressing room no warning just booking it will stop it sfa should change points 3pts for win 1 for scoring draw none fore none scoring draw same as defeat wee have to do something to get sponsorship
4 mil and early 20’s, another prospect. Not good enough and not exciting at all.Get the Lawells out, bring in players with pedigree. They knew we would be in the CL and failed us again.