A full season playing second tier football in Spain with Levante was enough to convince Celtic to move for Barcelona ‘s 20-year-old left back Alex Valle. The player will spend this season on loan in Glasgow, leaving a balance of an additional year on his new Barcelona contract, with a reduced buy-out clause.
I have no doubt Alex is a talented player, but the step up from second tier in Spain to Champions League level is significant. Celtic will hope to develop and, if successful, sign him permanently. He will provide crucial competition for Greg Taylor, one of our more prodigious performers last term.
Greg was one year older than Alex is now when he arrived at Celtic in 2019, but he had three years as first choice at Kilmarnock in the Premiership by then. Greg’s appearances in the early months of that season were limited, but he was first choice by February, a position he has retained ever since. We’ll see what the manager has in store for Alex. The player is not here for the weather, that’s for sure.
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HH
What larks – Paul
Happy Wednesday all.
Bed mostly dry this morning. Hint of a damp patch. Just my age?
Ps Gene – You got me yesterday as I had an early appointment. Don’t get too comfy up there.
Celtic will make an improved £9m bid for Augsburg’s Arne Engels. The Bundesliga club hope to keep the Belgian midfielder but the 20-year-old is keen on a move. (Sky Sports), external
Celtic have launched a £5m bid for Sheffield United and USA defender Auston Trusty. (Daily Record), external
Blackburn Rovers have opened talks with Rangers over midfielder Todd Cantwell, with a loan option and a permanent switch on the table. (Daily Record), external
Sheffield United have agreed a £2.5m fee for Celtic winger Mikey Johnston, but other English Championship clubs are interested in the 25-year-old. (Alan Nixon, external – subscription required)
Birmingham City want to sign Rangers winger Scott Wright after taking defender Ben Davies on loan from the Ibrox club. (Scottish Sun), external
Rangers’ major shareholders have been left bemused by a report saying a group of American investors are considering ploughing millions into the club. (Daily Record), external
Former Rangers chairman Dave King, who is the club’s largest single shareholder, says there is “no truth whatsoever” in reports investors are keen to buy a stake in Rangers (Scottish Sun), external.
Manchester United have authorized Scott McTominay to travel for medical tests and contract signing at Napoli after agreeing a €30m package plus sell-on clause for the Scotland midfielder. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Dundee United are aiming to bring in one more loan signing before the end of the transfer window (Courier), external.
CELTIC40ME @ 11:41 AM,
Well what Brendan said about patience at the beginning of July, compared to what he has just said at the end of August is telling.
Obviously he wanted players in during that seven weeks, it’s a huge chunk of the transfer window with no progress.
Alex Valle recently signed a new contract with Barca’
So that means neither he, Barca’ nor Celtic knew where his future lay.
He’s a last minute dot com loan, doesn’t bode well does it
We can clearly see why Brendan Rodgers has issues with the not fit for purpose recruitment process
Hail Hail
Aipple – wherefore art thou?
The player will spend this season on loan in Glasgow, leaving a balance of an additional year on his new Barcelona contract, with a reduced buy-out clause.
but chairbhoy says it is 8 million.
There is an option for another two years on top of the one year on his new deal.
No idea about his buyout clause but I think this will be a short but hopefully a very fruitful relationship
It does appear that Brendan is getting more of the quality he’s after even if it is for the short term which should please the Brendan Football Club supporters
Chairbhoy
Who would win in a fight between Cameron Carthorse Vickers and Cameron Carpet Slippers Vickers? 👍
Paul67 doesn’t sound impressed
Taylor will sign a new contract now
Seems Engels and McCowan might happen,Lennon Miller staying at Motherwell to play games
BSR
Sitting in my attic sipping coffee,
Hopefully Liam MacLead will give us a steer re Alex’s surname pronunciation, on second thoughts he makes a pigs ear of 7 and 11 , so the jury is out on that one.
Spanishlingotrickycfc
Paul 67
I wouldn’t agree there is a significant step up from Spanish 2nd division level to SPFL.
There’s barely more than 2 players in any SPFL squad (outwith Sevco & ourselves) who would be guaranteed a start in that division.
There are clubs like Levante, Zaragoza, Almeira, Eibar, Oviedo, Granada, Malaga, Depotivo & Sporting Gijon in there. I doubt St. Johnstone or Dundee United could manage a draw at home with any of them.
I predict Franky will be here for Four Seasons
Crawley Town manager apologises to Matt O’Riley over horror tackle
CHAIRBHOY on 28TH AUGUST 2024 12:03 PM
CELTIC40ME @ 11:41 AM,
“Well what Brendan said about patience at the beginning of July, compared to what he has just said at the end of August is telling.”
It’s really simple. You said we should have had an experienced quality left back in in July. Brendan said at that very same time that we needed to be patient, and that what matters is who we end up with at the end of the window.
We appear to have signed someone Brendan wants before the end of the window, the “quality” you were both after.
Right?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 12:05 PM,
Exactly…
Nonchalant Hunskelping A Speciality
Hail Hail
This is not about Brebdan by the way, before you get all agitated, it’s about your perception of things.
Is this the gist of it?
Brebdan in July: be patient, wait for the quality to come up, let’s see what the squad looks like in September
Brendan in August: we shouldn’t have been patient in July, we needed to have the sort of players I said weren’t available then in the door.
Brendan also in August, I want you to come and play for me
Choirboy
Still sowing seeds of division.
Hope it makes you feel good.
I know this is boring, I’ll shut it now
Depending on where you are in Spain, Valle will sound like “Va-ye” or “Ba-ye”.
CELTIC40ME @ 12:11 PM,
BR has opted for a short term solution because we need to revamp the recruitment process.
Hopefully by next summer, or even January the upgraded recruitment process is in place and we can bring in the quality we need.
Hail Hail
JINKYREDSTAR
See what you did there 👍
BURNLEY78 @ 12:18 PM,
Not as good as when I’m assisting folk in wheelchairs.
That makes me some sort of legend doesn’t it!?
Hail Hail
i am looking for the statement that brendan said the recruitment department was broke n, cannot find it,
he does mention improvements to be made.
that might be as simple as more bodies or a better software system, or a better alingment with the budget setters, who knows.
i am not going to complain about a department that identifies ccv, jots, mor, dembele, frimppers, and so on.
the timing thing bring them in early, a crock of shit, made up rubbish.
DENIABHOY on 28TH AUGUST 2024 12:18 PM
Depending on where you are in Spain, Valle will sound like “Va-ye” or “Ba-ye”.
….
Is southern Spain Ba-ye .
, as I always come a cropper ordering vanilla ice cream ?
Good afternoon all from the Quaich.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 28TH AUGUST 2024 12:10 PM
A significant step up from Spanish Div 2 to CL is what Paul said .
Spanish Div 2 to SPFL a different story , as you say .
Chairbhoy on 28th August 2024 12:21 pm
did you make up the 8mn for Valle or not ? what was the source ?
JINKYREDSTAR on 28TH AUGUST 2024 12:10 PM
I predict Franky will be here for Four Seasons
Cracker!
CHAIRBHOY on 28TH AUGUST 2024 12:18 PM
BR has opted for a short term solution because we need to revamp the recruitment process.
So he is a Brendan signing then. Good to know he’s decided. An important signing totally at odds with your requirements but as long as he’s happy you’re happy, no?
Is my description of events over this window accurate?
Fingers still crossed but not hopeful…
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 28TH AUGUST 2024 12:10 PM
To be fair, he said the step up from the Spanish second division to the Champions League is big – which it is.
The only step our board are interested in is staying just the one in front of our “Old Firm” pals….
Ins – 5
In: Kasper Schmeichel, goalkeeper (Anderlecht);
Viljami Sinisalo, goalkeeper (Aston Villa, undisclosed);
Paulo Bernardo, midfielder (Benfica, loan to permanent, undisclosed);
Adam Idah, forward (Norwich City, loan to permanent, undisclosed).
Loan in: Alex Valle, defender (Barcelona).
If Dave King is saying no takeover at ibrox, does that mean there is one?