Celtic need to strengthen in the upcoming January transfer window. That much is pretty clear and there is very little doubt about it. Brendan Rodgers has openly admitted that this squad needs more quality. But it will be interesting to see in which positions they do end up stregthening or at least try to.
Left-back is certainly one position where Celtic could look at other options. Greg Taylor has not been able to match the performances which he delivered under the management of Ange Postecoglou.
On the other hand, Alexandro Bernabei does not seem to have any future at Parkhead. Despite Taylor's disappointing form, the Argentine has only been able to make only a handful of appearances this season. Celtic might have signed him for a transfer fee believed to be around £3.75 million from Lanus, but it has quite clearly not worked out and parting ways might be best for both parties.
Celtic have signed a few players from the Portuguese league in recent times while Mikey Johnston did spend time there last season. And now, it looks like they have a former Benfica left-back in their sights.
Celtic tipped to go for £4 million defender in January
The player in question appears to be Tiago Araujo of Estoril. As tweeted out by PLZ Soccer, Stephen McGowan said:
"Thiago Araujo is a strong possibility for Celtic in January."
Araujo was one of the most highly-rated youngsters in Portuguese football while coming through the youth ranks at Benfica. But he never managed to establish himself at the senior level for the club and ended up departing for Estoril, where he has found his feet and shined lately.
It is not hard to see why Celtic might be interested in signing Araujo. He ticks a lot of the boxes that the club look for when scouting players.
That being said, rumours have suggested that it could take a transfer fee around £4 million to sign Araujo. Let's see if the Hoops end up making a move of that magnitude.