Alexandro Bernabei has arrived at Celtic for a fee in the region of £3.75 million - and Chris Sutton reckons shrewd moves of the past show he'll be worth much more this time next year.
The 21-year-old has signed a long-term deal at Parkhead to battle with Greg Taylor for the starting left-back role. It's been an exciting week for the Hoops as Ange Postecoglou kicks summer recruitment plans up a gear with the captures of Bernabei and Portuguese winger Jota following his 2021/22 loan.
It's added strength in depth for Celtic ahead of a Premiership title defence and assault on the Champions League group stages. Former striker Sutton knows the club's first-ever Argentine is coming with no experience of football in Europe but points to Josip Juranovic as an example of what can be achieved with a solid opening season in green and white. His value could soar dramatically.
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Juranovic has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of £15 million after arriving in Glasgow last year and Bernabei will be worth around that amount next year with good form according to Sutton.
Praising Postecoglou's summer business so far, he wrote in his Daily Record column: "Left-back is an area which needed to be addressed.
"Greg Taylor did a good job for the manager during last season’s run to the title, but stepping up to the standard of the Champions League is a big task and beyond the likes of Adam Montgomery and Liam Scales at this stage.
"Postecoglou has gone to Argentina to find Alexandro Bernabei and the board have pushed out monies which could total £3.75 million to get him.
"That’s a lot of cash at this moment for a 21-year-old with no experience out of his country.
"Yet the manager's transfer record tells you the full-back will be an excellent addition and will likely have settled and quadrupled his value inside 12 months, just as Josip Juranovic has done since signing.
"On the back of last season’s title win, I felt it was imperative that the club built from a position of strength. Don’t sit still. Don’t rest on laurels.
"Full marks to them so far. They have blasted out of the transfer blocks with impressive investment."
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- Watch Jota's first Celtic interview after transfer confirmation as away fans factor revealed
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