CELTIC fans have been waiting MONTHS for this area of the pitch to be strengthened.
And with just days before the transfer window slams shut, Brendan Rodgers has finally delivered.
2
2
The Celtic manager has made no secret of his desire to sign multiple targets before the end of the window, with more bodies needed in various areas of the pitch.
The Scottish champions wasted no time in snapping up a number of targets early in the window, but quality in key areas including the wings, striker and left-back have been lacking.
Rodgers revealed ahead of the crunch second leg against Kairat Almaty that his side were on the verge of landing deals for not one, but two key targets.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha was one of them alongside a left-back to provide cover for Kieran Tierney.
Celtic have been without a clear backup for Tierney since Greg Taylor quit the club for Greek side PAOK, while Jeffrey Schlupp returned to Leicester City after his loan spell before moving to Norwich City.
Liam Scales has filled in as deputy alongside Hayato Inamura but Rodgers has always had his eyes on another player to fill the void.
And that man will be Marcelo Saracchi.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan has now officially joined the Scottish champions from Boca Juniors on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Celtic fans might have been waiting a long time to find who will take on the role of competiting with Tierney for the left-back spot.
But it’s a deal that could prove to be worth the wait as Saracchi brings a wealth of experience to Glasgow having played for top European clubs such as RB Leipzig and Galatasaray previously.
He’s played in some pressure cooker environments throughout his career having starred for both sides in the Buenos Aires Superclasico, with a year-long spell at River Plate between 2017 and 2018.
The left-back has also featured in the massive Istanbul derbies during his time in Turkey.
Rangers legend Claudio Caniggia followed a similar path after beginning his career at River Plate to then starring for Boca Juniors, before heading to Scotland with Dundee and then the Light Blues.
Another ex-Rangers player, Gabriel Amato, did the same but he started at Boca before heading to River Plate.
But Saracchi would be the first footballer to ever feature in the Superclasico, the Intercontinental Derby (Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce) AND the Old Firm, should he feature against Rangers this season .
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
