Earlier this week, Estadio Deportivo reported Rayo Vallecano are ‘very close’ to securing a loan transfer of Celtic’s Luis Palma after agreeing a deal with Brendan Rodgers’ side.
There were claims stating FIFA have handed a transfer ban to the La Liga side, which put the winger’s move at risk. Deportes TVC dismissed it as an administrative error and said the transfer for the Celtic player is still on track.
Rayo Vallecano manager Iñigo Pérez has stated he’s aware of the recent reports linking his side to the 24-year-old. La Prensa have relayed comments made by Pérez during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
When asked about the Honduras international, the manager insisted no one from the club has told him about signing Palma.
“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 can’t give much opinion beyond him,” he said.
“I know him, I know how he plays, I know his virtues, but really, and the truth today, I am not deceiving you, is that no one has made any comments to me about him.”
Pérez’s admission is certainly interesting considering recent claims have stated Palma is close to leaving Celtic for Rayo Vallecano, but then managers have their own ways of being diplomatic during transfer season.
La Prensa state Palma’s arrival at the Spanish club is linked to exits of some players who are left out of the manager’s plans. They say James Rodríguez [who has joined Mexican side León] is among them, meaning one or more exits are needed for them to sign the Celtic player.
