Report: Celtic table £2.2m bid to sign right-back, but club want as much as £3m

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Dutch website Voetbal Nieuws claim that Celtic have tabled an offer worth £2.2million to sign Aurelio Buta – but that Royal Antwerp want more. The defender is now in the final year of his contract with the Belgian side, but they want more for Buta. Indeed, Celtic have been told to pay £3m for Buta.

Buta, 24, has starred in Belgian football since moving to Antwerp from Benfica’s B-team. In three seasons at Antwerp, he has clocked up 108 appearances in all competitions. But a move away from Belgium looks likelt this summer, due to his current contract situation.

Celtic are in desperate need of a right-back. Jeremie Frimpong joined Bayer Leverkusen in January, Hatem Abd Elhamed has returned to Israel and Jonjoe Kenny has not signed permanently. Anthony Ralston has been used, coming in from the cold. Buta could be the answer to Celtic’s problem area.

But is Buta worth £3m to Celtic?

There is no doubting his pedigree. Buta has all the necessary attributes that makes him an ideal Celtic signing. He is still young, he is playing in a lesser European league – compared to British football – and that makes him a somewhat unearthed diamond. He has the potential for resale value.

If Celtic are willing to pay £2.2million to land the five-time Portugal Under-20 international – then surely they can stretch another £800,000. If he has a good couple of years at Celtic, like Kris Ajer, there is no reason why he cannot increase his value to eight figures. A good signing.