Celtic hope to take further advantage of a special deal with Barcelona that should see young midfielder Marc Crosas move to Parkhead for a cut-price fee.
Celtic will pay an initial £415,000 for the 20-year-old, who made his first-team debut in 2006, rising to a potential £1.6million depending on appearances.
The deal, which is expected to be finalised in the coming days, is the culmination of talks between the clubs which were first initiated four years ago by Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and then manager Martin O'Neill.
The complex transfer gives Barcelona the right to buy back Crosas in two years for £1.65million with the Glasgow club retaining 25% of his worth.
If the Catalan club do not take up that option, they would receive 25% of any transfer fee Celtic receive from another club.
Crosas, who helped Lyon win the French league and cup double in a loan spell last season, is the first player to move from Barca under the terms.
But Lawwell has revealed that Argentina forward Javier Saviola and Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma earlier refused the opportunity.
"We would have taken Quaresma and Saviola but the players decided not to come," he told the Sunday Herald.
"We have always thought that this formula could be successful. So we have looked at Crosas.
"We are not finally there but that deal is now a structure which will hopefully allow us to add players going forward.
"Hopefully it makes a lot of sense. Not only with Barcelona but with other clubs too.
"A young or fringe Barcelona player could come here, play in our first team, play in front of 60,000 and in Europe and develop as a player. Both clubs could benefit from that."
(reopens) Crosas was paraded on the Celtic Park pitch before their opening Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against St Mirren, with the club expected to confirm he has signed a four-year contract.
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Comment 1 - 4 of 4
Let Rangers scrape the barrell of the English sunday leagues for their first team this season. At least we are developing the talent, and making money, from the talent of Europe. Four in a row is coming, as well as a run in Europe.....Oh did I mention a bucket full of cash too!
The fact this young guy has yet to play first team football for Barcelona makes him a dud? please if your gonna make comments at least think before opening your mouth. Crosas is a very good prospect from Barcelona the reason he's not been in the first team is because of players like Messi.
Crosas readily admits he's not the same quality as Messi but theres not many player in the world today who are, you forget he still came through the same youth academy and remember this is a player Barcelona will most likely buy back at the end of his time at Celtic.
Crosas is an Excellent prospect that Celtic have paid pennies for and if anyone says idiot nonsense like Paul G then it really does sound alot like sour grapes what is it? because rangers don't have a midfield with the wee numpty being injured people want to start taking swipes at ours?
Rino Gatuso was an excellent prospect when he went to rangers, Gatuso learned from his time in Scotland and now look at him, If Crosas has his head screwed on the right way and by readin the interviews etc it seems he's an intelligent young man he will go on to great things in the game
And even if was a dud, I would much rather have a team full of duds from Barca than a team full of english first division duds that cost more than twice as much.
come on paul, look at barca, what opportunity would any 20 year old player have to establish himself in that midfield?? I think its a fine idea and the more class players we can get the better. i think its a very ambitious and far sighted idea.
celtic are taking barcelona's duds. Have they no ambition
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