CELTIC have been set a price tag of £3million by Royal Antwerp for right-back target Aurelio Buta.
The Hoops have put in an offer of £2.2million for the defender, but the Belgian club will insist on the Parkhead men meeting their asking price, according to a report in the local media Voetbalnieuws.
The Portuguese full-back originally joined Antwerp on loan from Benfica in 2017 before making the move permanent a year later. He has made 108 appearances for the club, scoring two goals and clocking up 19 assists.
Ange Postecoglou inherited the problem position following the departures of Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer leverkusen and Hatem Abd Elhamed to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the January transfer window while loan signing Jonjoe Kenny was returned to Everton in the summer after failing to impress.
The new manager activated the remaining 12 months of Anthony Ralston’s contract and the 22-year-old, who has had temporary switches to Queen’s Park, Ross County and Dundee United in recent seasons, started last week’s 1-1 draw with FC Midtjylland and will almost certainly be in the No.2 position for tomorrow night’s crucial return leg of the Champions League second round qualifier in Denmark.
Buta is just one right-back on Postecoglou’s list as he has prioritised strengthening
the wide right defensive slot.
