Celtic could sign Marcelo Saracchi for less than £2 million

Celtic could land Marcelo Saracchi for less than £2 million, according to a report…

The defender enjoyed a highly successful and fruitful spell at Celtic Park last season, where he spent a season-long loan deal away from parent club Boca Juniors.

Brought to the club initially under Brendan Rodgers, the Uruguayan really flourished under Martin O’Neill, who clearly developed a strong connection to the player, praising him in the dressing room in front of his peers, when Celtic clinched the league against Hearts in May.

It was something that didn’t go unnoticed by the Celtic support either, who also thought the left-back had been a strong addition to the squad.

Able to fill in at both left-back and right-back if needed, Marcelo’s ability to drive with the ball and come inside to create overloads with Callum McGregor at times, was a real bonus.

Reminiscent of Greg Taylor under Ange Postecoglou, Saracchi helped in games towards the end often, when we needed that extra spark and drive to create something.

It also meant that Kieran Tierney could be rotated more consistently, meaning less chance of the Scotland international picking up an injury or running out of steam with fatigue, over the course and distance of a long season.

The two men covered the left-hand side of the defence really well together and offered us different styles of play at times too, ensuring a variety in our build-up play on the road to Five-in-a-row.

Questions remain though whether or not Celtic can get their act together quickly enough, to start getting deals done in the transfer market. Despite the window not being open just yet, teams are still free to get business sorted, with our two main rivals for the title last year, in Hearts and the Rangers, concluding some deals already.

Saracchi is said to be keen on a Celtic return but is NOT prepared to wait around for a deal to happen. The report in Daily Record also claims that Boca Juniors are prepared to take a reduced fee of under £2m to get the left-back off their books.

That is one mighty bargain but expect some haggling and lowballing before we get anywhere with this one, or indeed any incoming transfers this summer.

At Celtic Park, things just move a bit more slowly…and before you know it the autumn is here and they’re explaining how they still haven’t been able to replace Kyogo.

If we are to sign Marcelo Saracchi, there won’t be a better chance, as interest in his services are increasing from Turkey and the MLS too, so you best get a move on, Michael.

Paul Gillespie

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