Barcelona striker wanted by Celtic
Stuart Telford
- Updated: 4 Jan 2023 08:24 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona need to offload more players to register new signings like Robert Lewandowski, and Celtic could be about to help the out in that regard.
Barcelona have spent more than €160 million on Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde this summer, as well as acquiring Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen on frees, but they need to sell others in order to satisfy La Liga's financial safeguards.
Barca have activated some "financial levers" - effectively selling a percentage of future revenues for investment now - but they still need to slash their wage bill, ideally earning a transfer profit in the process, if they are to register their new signings for official games.
📍 IT'S ALL OVER!
🔵🔴 @fcbarcelonab - Espanyol B (2-0)
⚽️ Araujo & Collado
🙌 Victory and a superb goal in the B team derby! 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jws2L8rST8— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 4, 2020
Philippe Coutinho is the only player to have generated money for Barca this summer, the Brazilian making his loan deal to Aston Villa permanent for €20m, but former Spain Under-21 winger Alex Collado could be the next to follow him out of the club.
The Daily Record report that Scottish champions Celtic are looking for attacking reinforcements after returning to the Champions League, and that Collado could fit the bill.
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"Spanish journalist Albert Roge claims Celtic are in for the former Granada loanee and Fabrizio Romano reports he will depart Barcelona imminently," they write.
"The former Spain U19 international can play multiple positions across the front three and Postecoglou has been looking for added attacking options ahead of his side's Champions League tilt."
Collado's contract at Camp Nou expires in June 2023, but Celtic could get the 23-year-old at a knockdown price with Barca so keen to reduce their overall squad numbers this summer.
How good is Collado?
Collado is a left-footed attacking midfielder who can akso be used on the wings or - at a push - deeper in central midfield.
He has scored 22 goals and assisted 13 more with Barcelona's youth and reserve sides, but has only featured twice for the first team since being handed his debut in May 2019.
Collado had a productive loan spell with Granada last season, and would prove competition for Jota, Daezen Maeda and James Forrest at Celtic Park.
