Another club has reportedly entered the race for Marcelo Saracchi, leaving Celtic supporters wondering whether they have already seen the last of the Uruguayan in green and white.
Saracchi returned to parent club Boca Juniors after his loan spell at Celtic came to an end. Any hopes of working his way back into the picture in Buenos Aires were quickly dismissed.
Celtic have already explored the possibility of bringing him back, but a loan offer was rejected. Boca are looking for a permanent transfer instead, with the Argentine club keen to move him on this summer.
It is understood Saracchi is seeking a three-year contract, something which appears to be one of the main obstacles in negotiations.
Now there is another development.
Independiente are monitoring the situation and could yet make their move for the 27-year-old (via RecordSport).
Interest from Independiente is nothing new. The Argentine side were linked with Saracchi before he joined Celtic on loan last summer, but according to BOLAVIP, talks failed to progress because of disagreements over a deal.
That interest in returning does not shut the door on Celtic.
It does, however, add another club to a situation that many supporters hoped would already have been resolved. The longer it drags on, the greater the chance that another side steps in with terms that suit both the player and Boca.
From Celtic’s perspective, there is already a clear understanding of what Saracchi offers.
Injuries interrupted parts of his season at Parkhead, but when available, he proved he could be relied upon. He settled into life in Glasgow, handled the demands that come with playing for Celtic and provided genuine competition on the left side.
The player is understood to be keen on making the move permanent. That much has never looked to be the issue.
The focus now shifts back to Celtic. If the club believe Saracchi is the right fit beyond last season’s loan spell, they will need to find a deal that works for all parties before interest elsewhere gathers momentum.
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