Barcelona and Celtic have reportedly sealed the agreement regarding a season-long loan deal for 20-year-old La Masia graduate Alex Valle.

According to an update by reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Alex Valle is the subject of interest from Celtic. The 2023/24 William Hill Premiership winners have been keen on signing a left-back in the summer transfer window and have secured an agreement over a season-long loan deal for the 20-year-old La Masia graduate. However, the Catalan giants have not included a purchase option in the arrangement.

Who is Alex Valle?

Alex Valle has yet to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at FC Barcelona, even though he is one of the most promising young prospects to have emerged from the club’s fabled La Masia academy. A native of Badalona, the Spaniard began his youth career with UDAT Gramanet before spending some time with CE Sant Gabriel.

However, the 20-year-old has seen his stock soar during his spell with Barcelona, rapidly rising through the ranks in La Masia before turning professional by turning out for Barcelona Atletic. While the youngster has yet to make his first-team bow for the Blaugrana, he has made his mark during his loan spells with FC Andorra and Levante.

Widespread reports ahead of the 2024/25 season suggested Barcelona might integrate the Spanish full-back into the first-team squad, introducing him as a competitor to Alejandro Balde. However, Alex Valle’s next move will also be on loan, with Celtic closing in on securing his services.

Valle set to join Celtic

Celtic’s interest in Alex Valle is a tad bit surprising yet understandable. While the first-team squad has two left-backs, Adam Montogomery is not ready to become a regular for the senior side. So, Greg Taylor is the only recognised full-back in the first team, thus compelling Brendan Rodgers to ask for another option.

Valle has thus emerged as a viable target for Celtic, with the 2023/24 Scottish champions securing an agreement to complete a season-long loan deal for the 20-year-old Spaniard. The youngster will extend his Barcelona contract by one year before embarking on the new temporary spell, considering his current deal expires in less than 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Catalan giants have not agreed to a purchase option or obligation clause in the loan deal for the Spanish full-back prospect. So, Valle will return to Barcelona after his spell with Celtic, hoping to make his senior bow for the Blaugrana

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Brendan Rodgers’ superb  response when BBC man asks if Celtic will spend £30m in the transfer window

Celtic’s win over St Mirren keeps Brendan Rodgers’ team two points clear of Rangers heading into next weekend’s Glasgow Derby.

What made the win over Stephen Robinson’s side even more impressive is that Celtic thrashed St Mirren without Matt O’Riley who is currently in Brighton finalising his £30m move to the English Premier League club.

And when that move is complete, Brendan Rodgers should have another lump of cash to add to the transfer coffers to help strengthen Celtic before the transfer window closes.

So when BBC reporter Kheredine Idessane asked him post-match if he will spend up to £30m in the transfer window, the Celtic gaffer gave a superb answer.

Rodgers’ don’t ‘waste your breath’ answer to Celtic question

Rodgers has already praised Matt O’Riley for his conduct throughout all the speculation surrounding his Celtic future.

And now that it looks like he is going, the Celtic manager will need to find a quality replacement as well as strengthening other areas of the team, which will take plenty of money.

So when the question was asked on BBC Sportsound if Celtic will spend £30m, it’s little wonder Rodgers reacted like this:

Reporter: “And I know you’re happy with the score of players that you’ve got at the moment, but there’s also the opportunity for you now to maybe spend the money you’ve got for Matt O’Riley. Do you know if you’re able to do that in terms of will you be able to spend the likes of £25-£30 million?”

Rodgers: (Laughing) “You’ve covered Celtic for a long time, eh? So you should know that’s a question that you don’t even need to waste your breath on. I think we’ll find players and we’ll bring players in hopefully.”

Reporter: “I don’t mean on one player, obviously. You talked about three players of the £7-8 million (bracket), rather than smaller fees. Is that possible for you?”

Rodgers: “I don’t know. We have to see what we can do in the market. But what I do know is come next Friday, we’ll have improved the squad.”

Celtic’s transfer need

Everybody knows that Celtic are cash-rich. Everybody also knows that despite that, it is unlikely that at this stage of the transfer window, the club are unlikely to spend anywhere near £30m now.

However, with the resources that Brendan Rodgers has at his disposal, the Celtic gaffer still has time to get in players for key areas of the team.

Clearly, a striker is required and when Matt O’Riley leaves, Rodgers has already admitted that he wants two midfielders to replace the Dane.

A left-back is also needed to offer competition to Greg Taylor and another centre-back for cover in the backline.

Many may argue that another winger should be a transfer priority too. If Rodgers can complete this work before or on transfer deadline day then the Celtic fans will look forward to the season ahead with renewed optimism.