Former Belgium manager Marc Wilmots believes Manchester City’s Jason Denayer is destined for the top – Celtic can help him get there.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may have been hoping to put his feet up on deadline day, watching on in awe as the imitable Jim White goes into full-on rumour overdrive rather than biting his nails by the Parkhead fax machine.
Yet, news that Rivaldo Coetzee failed his medical at Celtic, thus scuppering a move from South African outfit Ajax Cape Town, leaves the Scottish champions in desperate need of a new centre-back with the hours ticking by.
Therefore, who better than a player who knows the club, is proven in the league, and is almost certain to be on the move between today and tomorrow.
According to the Daily Record, Rodgers has approached Manchester City about the prospect of taking Jason Denayer on loan for the season – marking a return to Parkhead for the Dutchman who spent the 2014/15 campaign in Glasgow under Ronny Deila.
And while Denayer impressed in his previous spell in green and white, Celtic will be hoping that the young Belgian takes one giant step towards realising his vast potential under Rodgers, a manager renowned for his ability to get the best out of his players.
‘He can be world class’
“I went to Milan to see him play for Celtic against Inter Milan (in a 1-0 defeat in the Europa League round-of-32 in 2015),” former Belgium coach Marc Wilmots told the Manchester Evening News at the end of Denayer’s impressive spell at Celtic.
“After 30 minutes, Celtic were down to ten men and then I saw what a player he is. He took command and remained calm and controlled his defence. First and foremost, he defends. He’s also fast and his positional sense is superb.”
“Jason has enormous potential. If he continues to evolve at the rate he is progressing, he can be world class.”
Disappointing loans at Galatasaray and Sunderland have dented Denayer’s reputation but, at just 22, he still has plenty of time on his side.
Scotland’s PFA Young Player of the Year in 2014/15, another spell at Celtic could be the making of this hugely promising centre-back.
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