Celtic are well placed to win the race to sign Liverpool central midfielder Pedro Chirivella this month, according to Goal.
The football site claimed on Tuesday that Brendan Rodgers wants to reunited with the 21-year-old Spaniard after he snubbed a move to Rosenborg last week.
Goal report Celtic are in pole position to land Chirivella ahead of his other suitors Nottingham Forest and Swansea because of their “potential participation in the Champions League, and the player’s relationship with Rodgers”.
Celtic are keen on signing midfielder @pedrochb97 from #LFC – a deal had been agreed with Rosenborg last week but the player rejected the move.
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) August 7, 2018
Liverpool had granted permission for Chirivella to hold talks with the Norwegian outfit after a fee of £2.4million rising to a potential £3.5million was agreed but the player decided against it.
Good move for Celtic?
The Hoops have had mixed results in signing players from the Premier League elite, with the capture of Patrick Roberts a huge success and the Charly Musonda deal proving a waste of time for all involved. Can Chirivella thrive in Scotland? Certainly, Rodgers knows him well, which helps. The northern Irishman handed the Spaniard his professional debut for Liverpool in a Europa League tie at Bordeaux in September 2015 and has long been a fan of his ability to direct operations from the centre of midfield. Celtic are in need of reinforcements in that position after losing Stuart Armstrong, and amid a growing likelihood Aston Villa will beat them to the signing of John McGinn.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10
Likely to happen?
It is certainly highly possible as Liverpool have given the green light for Chirivella to leave and he knows he needs to quit Liverpool in search of first-team football. It appears the Spaniard would rather stay in the UK, and Celtic’s status and prestige, not to mention the Rodgers factor, gives them a key edge. Much will depend upon whether the cautious Scots are willing to pay the fee and wages needed to get the deal done, as both Forest and Swansea have cash to spend.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10