Celtic are exploring a move for Cercle Brugge left-back Flávio Nazinho, but talk of an imminent deal appears premature at this stage.
Anthony Joseph reports that Celtic are assessing the conditions of a potential transfer, with the club having watched Nazinho closely during the recent U21 European Championships.
While interest is understood to be real, suggestions that the player is already on his way to Glasgow overstate where things currently stand.
Nazinho has been linked with Celtic over the last, and the latest developments fit a pattern familiar to supporters, early interest followed by slower movement behind the scenes.
This potential deal looks no different. For a transfer to be finalised, several steps need to be taken. Firstly, Cercle Brugge would have to grant permission for Celtic to engage in direct talks with the player and his representatives. Until that happens, things remain in the early stages.
An agreement on a transfer fee between the two clubs would follow, a process that could prove tricky given Brugge’s financial stance and the likelihood of other interested parties on the continent. Only after those hurdles are cleared would Celtic be able to negotiate personal terms and arrange a medical.
Nazinho, who came through the ranks at Sporting CP before moving to Belgium, is regarded as a pacey, attacking full-back, the sort that fits Rodgers’ preferred style. Celtic’s interest in strengthening the left side of defence has been no secret, and the Portuguese defender seems to fit the mould of a long-term project.
As things stand, no deal is imminent, but the interest is firm. Whether it materialises into something more concrete will depend on how talks progress in the coming weeks, and how much Celtic are willing to push through the complications that tend to come with cross-border deals.
