Celtic do not have an option to buy left-back Diego Laxalt when his loan expires at the end of the season but the Uruguayan has been a regular starter since his arrival in October.
The 28-year-old has not won over a lot of supporters with his performances and when asked whether they should sign him on a permanent basis, a majority of fans on Twitter were against the move:
Would not touch him with a barge pole
— Balger Bhoy (@balger_bhoy) February 7, 2021
Not for me, we’ve failed to win in something like 75% of games he’s featured in, Milan got rid for a reason
— Chris Martin (@Studstheman) February 7, 2021
No thanks, Taylor’s the better player. Laxalt isn’t worth the money.
— Rodrigo Sanchez (@Rodrigo50781551) February 7, 2021
i wouldny buy him
— Mark Nesbitt (@MarkNesbitt1888) February 7, 2021
I wouldn't buy him at all
— Rossco (@Indycelt9) February 7, 2021
Wouldn't buy him. We do need to buy a LB as Taylor just falls short of being good enough
— Soddit (@FrankON60131492) February 7, 2021
Send him back to Milan
— Ryan King (@RJK301) February 7, 2021
Willing to pay his flight back to Milan
— Jonathan McNeilly (@bagga9) February 7, 2021
He runs about like a stolen fiesta he shouldn't be near a Celtic team had 2 or 3 good games when he came in then faded away from then
— Thomas Lunday (@LundayThomas) February 7, 2021
Manager Neil Lennon has begun to start Greg Taylor in recent weeks and the Scottish international has been a much more assured presence, especially in a back four.
Laxalt, in contrast, has spent a large portion of his career as a wingback and he is clearly ill-suited to playing in a deeper role, which again raises questions over Celtic’s recruitment strategy.
Reports suggested that his parent club AC Milan would demand €8m (£7m) and there is certainly no way that Celtic would be prepared to meet that asking price.