Despite major interest from Celtic, Facundo Buonanotte seems set to join Leicester City, according to the Daily Mail.
Yesterday, we reported that Celtic were in the race to sign Buonanotte from Brighton. The attacking midfielder was said to be valued at around £15m, but it was clear that Celtic were looking for a loan deal rather than a permanent one.
Feyenoord almost secured the 19-year-old on loan but now it seems he will be playing his football at Leicester in the English top flight.
The Foxes will be looking for a loan deal that will see Buonanotte play in their colours for the entire season, and it is rumoured that his medical could take place as soon as today.
There is still an outside chance that Brendan Rodgers could make a swift move for the promising player but it seems as though the Scottish Champions may have to turn their attention elsewhere.
So far in the summer transfer window, Celtic have signed just the one outfield player, bringing Paulo Bernardo back to the club after months of haggling with Benfica over cutting the previously agreed transfer fee.
Adam Idah remains at Norwich City, leaving Celtic with just the one striker in the squad, as Oh was sold for £4.5m last month, adding to the £8m banked from the Abada transfer.
This week Celtic updated the London Stock Exchange about earnings considerably higher than anticipated that will be reported next month. Greg Taylor remains the only left-back in the Celtic first team squad.
Meanwhile Matt O’Riley edges closer to a £25m plus move to Brighton, in a window that has so far failed to deliver even a Paddy Roberts coming back to Celtic (on loan) rumour. Guess no-one would believe it…
Jessica Elliott
Personally starting to think that Rodgers transfer strategy is based solely upon the English market at present imo?
Moreso with players with EPL experience imo?
Just not convinced that such a strategy is going to work, especially players would possibly look at going to Scottish football as a backwards career move, if they are currently with an EPL team?
Course that has more potential to change, especially as the window gets closer to closing?
But a dangerous game for ourselves to potentially be playing at present imo?
Seems like Rodgers quest for the quality that’s he’s looking for, has to stem from the EPL at present?
Which is always going to be a massive challenge for ourselves, and hardly got a great success rate from the players we have attracted from the EPL recently either?
Loan deals are also the more likely option also, especially with the amount of money involved in players wages, and that’s without the inflated fee involved?
More of the take a look before investing approach possibly still in operation still?
Currently are negotiations are involving a lowball and hardball approach, which hasn’t helped ourselves in the time factor either to date?
Now I did expect a totally different approach during this window, especially with Rodgers calling the shots on the identification process?
But starting to wonder if Rodgers within his identification process is trying to aim to high for the player’s that he is hoping to attract, from the markets within the EPL, where he would have more contacts and knowledge within?
At present EPL teams would be in the process of finalising there squads which have to be submitted to the league before the start of the season?
So of course there are plenty of players around who won’t be getting a squad place but still under contract with the club?
Chelsea currently have untold amount of players in such a position currently, for example?
So potentially, are we sitting back and waiting to see who actually could become available before acting?
Could we be also looking at using players like Oreily who would attract EPL interest, as bait now, in players plus cash deals?
Looking like that was the initial plan with Brighton?
Yet if Oreily isn’t interested in joining them, in the same manner as the other lad wasn’t interested in joining us?
Then a ridiculous amount of moving parts in operation for such deals to be concluded imo?
I still believe that we can turn around this window, that hasn’t been to inspiring whatsoever to date, especially with the amount of work that was expected to take place during it also?
Yet starting to think that if we are throwing all our eggs into the EPL market for players, then it could well be a very questionable decision taken by Rodgers for this window imo?