The transfer pursuit of Rafael Santos Borre by Celtic has been dealt a blow after his current club River Plate has reportedly offered him a new deal to re-sign him at the club. Rafael Santos Borre, who was out of contract this summer, has been a key transfer target for the Hoops, but recent revelation suggests that the Argentinian club has offered the Colombian striker double wages to keep him at the club.
Celtic, after appointing Ange Postecoglou as manager, have been scouting the transfer market for a striker as their main man up front Odsonne Edouard is likely to leave the club this summer. Many clubs are interested in the striker’s services and a reported €20m asking price has been stamped on by the club for his suitors.
To make up for the potential loss of strike force, Rafael Santos Borre was being scouted for a move to Parkhead. The Colombian international is a wanted man for many clubs, including arch-rivals Rangers, who are also keen on bringing him to Ibrox.
River Plate are well aware of the situation with the player as he is out of contract this summer and will be a free agent, but in a desperate attempt to keep their prized asset at the club, they have reportedly offered him double wages to tie him at the club.
However, the most recent reports state that Bundesliga club Frankfurt is very close to signing the striker and have offered him a four-year deal. According to Sky’s Max Bielefeld (via 67 Hail Hail), the deal is almost done and Rafael is supposed to make a decision in the next few days.
Santos Borré from River Plate to Frankfurt on a free transfer is almost a done deal ⚫️⚪️?
The striker has agreed a 4-year contract with @Eintracht yesterday.
His final decision is expected in the next days#TransferUpdate@Sky_Marc pic.twitter.com/cw3cQBuhEy
— Max Bielefeld (@Sky_MaxB) June 30, 2021
Presently, the player is with the Colombian national team, battling it out in Copa America. So far he has appeared twice for his national side in the tournament but has failed to make his mark with zero goals to his name.
The 25-year old forward is not new to European club football. He has had spells in the LaLiga with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, but things did not go according to his plans and Borre was unable to make his mark with either of the Spanish clubs. The Rojiblancos sold him back to River Plate in 2017. Since the switch, Rafael Santos Borre has settled well in Argentina, scoring a total of 54 goals for Los Millonarios.
However, the transfer situation now remains in the hanging with the player considering a move to Europe and his current club trying to convince him to stay. Both Celtic and Rangers have made it clear that the Colombian international is a key transfer target for them. Celtic were hoping to land the striker on a free transfer, but Frankfurt seem to have gone ahead in the race leaving the Scottish club in the dust.
No doubt Rafael Santos Borre is an ambitious transfer target, knowing what he brings to the team. A robust striker who is well established in his current team speaks volumes of his qualities. The future of the player is uncertain, but making a switch to Glasgow will be a step ahead, where he could compete for trophies and titles and certainly, European club competition would add more exposure to his striking capabilities. No doubt Argentina and Brazil have competitive leagues but European club football is a different ball game altogether.
It’s certainly a tough task for Ange Postecoglou to get hold of the striker with several other clubs competing for his signature. Ange needs to convince him to make the switch to Parkhead, but it’s a big ask as the player may decide to stay put at River Plate where he has won the Copa Libertadores and 2 Copa Argentina titles or may decide to join the Bundesliga club Frankfurt.
For the latest Celtic Transfer updates, stay tuned to Scottish Daily.