Celtic would need to break Estoril Praia’s record transfer fee if they were to prise away the versatile Tiago Araújo.
The player has been linked to the Hoops via Daily Telegraph, who claimed that the club are hot on the trail of the former Benfica academy star and plan to make a move for him this coming January when the transfer window opens.
Able to play left-back and left-wing, the utility player is viewed by Brendan Rodgers as one who can add that missing quality for side that has been robbed of it in recent times. The player has been subject to enquiries from the Bhoys and it’s thought that the man who moved from Benfica 18 months ago wouldn’t come cheaply as they still own 50% of his registration due to a sell-on clause.
A report by A Bola in his native country claims that the Portuguese club are looking at breaking their current transfer record for players sold – which was Chiquinho to Wolverhampton Wanderers in England for €5 million. Although the report also adds that should the Scottish club place a bid on the table of around €4.6 million for the tall and athletic 22-year-old, it could be one that could encourage Estoril into doing a deal next month.
It’s an area of the team that badly needs attention the left-back berth. Greg Taylor was integral under Ange Postecoglou in that inverted full-back role and did exceptionally well for two seasons.
However, with the arrival of Brendan Rodgers and the return to a traditional full-back role, where the player is required to bomb up and down the park as well as be very physically imposing and athletic, Taylor has fallen well short of the mark – as European performances have proved. With Alexandro Bernabei clearly not the answer either, it’s a part of the side that needs immediate attention, amongst several others.
Paul Gillespie
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