Celtic have been handed a green light to bring Argentinos Juniors midfielder, Fausto Vera to Parkhead.
What’s the word?
As per reports in Brazil (via Daily Record) the Argentine outfit have rejected bids worth in the region of €4m (£3.4m) for the 22-year-old from Brazilian side Corinthians and Belgian outfit Genk, leaving the door open for the Hoops to pounce.
The Scottish champions have been linked with a move for the 5 foot 9 gem in recent days, having previously missed out on a deal for another midfield target in Vinicius Souza, who has joined La Liga side Espanyol.
The Old Firm outfit have also been handed a further boost following an admission from Argentinos chairman Cristian Malaspina that the club may be willing to cash in if an acceptable offer is received:
“As a club, when there is a value that cannot be refused, we have to negotiate. Nobody is irreplaceable. But, equally, it is also a position that we are covered. We are calm if it happens. It is a possibility we sell and then he stays with us (until September) which would be the ideal scenario. But it could be that a club that comes to buy has other ideas. We are working. He has been with us for a long time and we have to be sensitive too. It is not easy.”
The suggestion is that it could take as much as £5.5m for a deal to be agreed.
Good fit
Any successful move would mean the second Argentine arrival at Parkhead this summer, following the recent capture of full-back Alexandro Bernabei on a £3.75m deal from Lanus, with manager Ange Postecoglou seemingly scouring the globe for potential talent.
In Vera, it would appear that the Glasgow side have found a player who could well prove to be the next big thing, having been on the receiving end of a glowing assessment from Pablo Carrozza, who labelled him as “one of the most complete players in Argentine football.”
Fellow journalist Roy Nemer has also given his backing to the £5.4m-rated man, suggesting that he could “do well” in Postecoglou’s side, with the chance to play Champions League football also likely to be an attractive prospect.
The youngster has already proven his worth amid what has been a strong season thus far for his current club, averaging 1.4 clearances, 1.7 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game from his seven league outings, while also chipping in with one goal and averaging an impressive 2.9 shots per game.
Clearly a dynamic midfielder, Vera would add increased quality and competition to an area of the pitch that is in need of bolstering following the departures of Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton, with the player potentially another unknown quantity who could blossom under Postecoglou’s tutelage.
AND in other news, In talks: Ange makes Celtic move for £7m “big talent”, he’s the perfect Jullien heir
