ARGENTINIAN left-back Alexandro Bernabei looks to be heading for a Celtic exit next month.
The 24-year-old left-back cost £3.75million when he arrived from top-flight club Lanus 18 months ago, but has failed to make an impact.
Bernabei arrived as competition to Greg Taylor in the No.3 position, but first-team appearances have been few and far between.
He made a cameo appearance in the 2-0 loss to Hearts at the weekend, but has turned out a mere 71 minutes for the champions since Brendan Rodgers took over from Ange Postecoglou in June.
BY THE LEFT…Alexandro Bernabei has lift-off as he wallops in Celtic’s second goal in the 2-0 win over Ross County in Dingwall in April last season.
Despite the lack of outings in the top side, Bernabei, who signed a five-year contract when he joined the Hoops, is still highly rated in his homeland and in Italy, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
Celtic have been linked with Estoril’s £4million-rated Tiago Araujo with the one-time Benfica left-sided defender attracting the attention of talent scouts with his displays this term.
Yuki Kobayashi, signed from Vissel Kobe on a free transfer in January, is also poised to join the clear-out with Rodgers determined to streamline his squad.
The Japanese centre-back could move on a loan or permanent arrangement and several J-League teams are monitoring his progress.
Nat Phillips is on his way back to Liverpool, as CQN forecast. The defender’s temporary will expire next month and he will return to Anfield.
LOOKING DOWN…Gustaf Lagerbielke displays disappointment after Celtic’s League Cup exit to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in August.
Gustaf Lagerbielke, the Champions League matchwinner against Feyenoord, was missing from the matchday squad for the match against the Edinburgh side on Saturday which fuelled reports he, too, is surplus to requirements.
The Swede arrived from Elfsborg in a £3million switch, but has been kept out of the side by the outstanding consistency of Liam Scales alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, a fixture in the Hoops’ central defence.
Like Kobayashi, 23-year-old Lagerbielke could be allowed to leave on loan or in a permanent switch.
Forgotten Postecoglou signing Yosuke Ideguchi, who joined in a triple swoop on the J-League almost two years ago alongside Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, is ready for a return to his homeland.
The midfield anchorman landed a Player of the Year nomination during his loan stint at Avispa Fukuoka and it looks as though his spell in Scotland is over.
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