Speaking recently on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast, Dharmesh Sheth claimed that Celtic could land AC Milan defender, Diego Laxalt, on a ‘cut-price’ deal this summer.
Laxalt joined Celtic on a season-long loan deal back in October, and has so far gone on to make 18 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.
In the league, the £4.5 million-rated 27-year-old has impressed over his nine appearances for Neil Lennon’s side, making an average of 1.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.1 clearances and 1.1 shots per game, culminating in an average WhoScored match rating of 6.86 – ranking him as the club’s joint 14th-best performer in the Scottish Premiership.
And, while the Uruguay international’s deal at Parkhead does not include an option to buy clause, Sheth recently claimed, speaking on an episode of the Transfer Talk podcast, that Milan would be willing to part with the left-back for a reduced fee this summer.
He said: “Diego Laxalt could be available for a cut-price deal this summer. He joined from AC Milan on deadline day in October, you’ll remember, but an option to buy clause was not inserted in the deal. Milan, at the time, valued him at £9 million, but they are keen to offload him and will consider, we’re told, lowering that valuation to secure a sale to Celtic.”
Would Laxalt be a good signing for Celtic?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Dharmesh Sheth’s comments regarding Diego Laxalt…
As such, it would appear that, despite the fact that Celtic do not have an option to buy clause in their current deal for Laxalt, the club may be able to land the defender on a permanent basis next summer, with AC Milan appearing to be more than happy to part with the left-back.
However, if the 27-year-old continues his fine form for Lennon’s side, it would not be surprising if other clubs took an interest in the defender towards the end of this season, which leaves open the possibility that Celtic could come to rue not insisting on an option to purchase clause when they signed Laxalt on loan back in October.