CELTIC have been linked with Cercle Brugge left-back Flavio Nazinho.
Brendan Rodgers was impressed with Japanese new Bhoy Hayati Inamura in his 45 minutes in the 2-1 win over Cork City in Ireland during the week, but is still stepping up his efforts to strengthen the No.3 position.
Greg Taylor sealed his free transfer move to Greek side PAOK at the start of the month to spark the champions’ chase for a back-up to returning hero Kieran Tierney.
Nazinho, who moved from Sporting Lisbon in a £900,000 switch last summer, has been monitored by Parkhead scouts during his time in Belgium, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
GREEN FOR GO…Celtic target Flavio Nazinho in action for former club Sporting Lisbon.
The 21-year-old defender, an international team-mate of Paulo Bernardo, spent a season on loan at Brugge before making the move permanent.
Nazinho made 39 appearances for the team last term which included both legs against Kilmarnock in a Europa League second round qualifier, but a hamstring injury kept him out of the Conference League clash against Hearts.
Despite competing in Europe, Cercle escaped relegation from the Belgian top flight after winning the play-off against Patro Eisden.
The club’s CEO Klaas Reynaert admitted: “Nazinho is highly sought after and we are not in a position to refuse a good offer to remain financially sound.”
Serie A outfit Roma and La Liga club Real Sociedad are also reported to be watching the defender’s situation.
