Louie Barry lands Celtic transfer pitch as winger hunt surges with £8.5m target injury addressed amid Palma 'reality'
Celtic have been told that winger Louie Barry is "ready" for a move to the the club after his impressive campaign with Stockport County.
The Premiership leaders are set to test Aston Villa’s resolve with an opening seven-figure bid for the 21-year-old after he was recalled from his successful loan spell. The English Premier League side have offered Barry a new deal but he has still to put pen to paper with Celtic’s recruitment team flagging Barry to boss Brendan Rodgers after a campaign in League One that saw him net 16 goals.
Going into the Scottish Cup clash with Kilmarnock, Rodgers remained tight-lipped on targets but the boss insisted he is confident he will bolster his squad by the end of the window. A winger appears to be at the top of the Celtic shopping list this month - and former Parkhead defender Michael Gray reckons that Barry is the perfect fit.
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Asked by Betfred if he felt Barry was ready for the "step up" to Celtic, Gray back the wide man as he pitched his qualities to the Hoops. He said “I do, yes. He was brilliant for Stockport on loan, banging in goals left, right and centre.
"I know he’s gone back to his parent club, but that speculation isn’t going to go away. It might be Celtic, but there’s a lot of Championship sides probably looking at him and think he could be the difference in elevating their playoff chances.”
Raul Moro has also been floated as a target for the Scottish champions - but the £8.5m-rated winger suffered a nightmare injury that could put any move at risk. The 22-year-old was stretched off as Real Valladolid slumped to a La Liga defeat to Espanyol.
Following the full-time whistle, manager Diego Cocca offered an update on the forward: "It's not confirmed yet, but it seems he has an issue with his collarbone and will be heading to the hospital. We wish him the best."
In terms of outgoings, misfit Luis Palma's exit from Celtic is in jeopardy after FIFA's intervention saw Rayo Vallecano hit with a three-window transfer ban. But with the La Liga side fighting the ruling by world football's governing body, boss Inigo Perez appears to have left the door open for a deal.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Osasuna on Sunday, Perez was asked about a move for the Honduran: "I have heard the rumour, but the reality today is that no one from the club has told me anything about this player, so I cannot give my opinion much beyond him.
“I know him, I know how he plays, I know his virtues, but really, and the truth to this day, I am not deceiving you, is that no one has made any comment to me about him.”
