Celtic will today finalise a deal to sign Antwerp right back Aurélio Buta for €3,5m according to a report by Belgian journalist Florian Holsbeek.
The 24 year-old full-back is a product of the Benfica Academy has impressed during his time in Belgium, making 108 appearances scoring twice, and assisting nineteen times.
As we reported yesterday via Belgian outlet Voetbal Nieuws, Celtic and Antwerp were progressing with talks over the transfer. Buta, who still has a year left at the Belgian club would be an impressive acquisition for the Parkhead side and Celtic know that he will be available for €3.5m. Ange Postecoglou is keen on bringing the right-back to the club and the report states that the club are willing to pay up in order to secure the ex-Portuguese U20 Internationalist.
Postecoglou and new CEO Dominic McKay inherited a considerable mess from Neil Lennon and Peter Lawwell after the last season and the lack of investment in the backline, excluding Starfelt, has been worrying. A right-back, another central defender and a new goalkeeper are required as soon as possible and the duo, who arrived in the summer, need to arrest the situation and make sure that they are getting quality bodies in the door. Buta would be a start.
Now it looks like this deal is going to be completed today and Buta could be in the starting line-up at Tynecastle on Saturday evening for the Scottish Premiership opener.
Aurélio Buta va quitter #Antwerp pour le #CelticFC contre un chèque de 3.5 millions. Officialisation dans la journée #Mercato
— Florian Holsbeek (@Florianholsbeek) July 27, 2021
Ange Postecoglou’s squad set to be bolstered by the arrival of Antwerp full-back Aurelio Buta?
It’s been a slow window but #Celtic reportedly close to signing the Portuguese right-back, who looks solid with both feet and in one-v-one situations.pic.twitter.com/q5bYPihH0A
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) July 27, 2021
