Brendan Rodgers needs another centre-back at Celtic.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has dipped into the January transfer window once with the signing of Marvin Compper from RB Leipzig, and he now needs to lure almost exactly the same player to Glasgow again.
The Hoops have allowed 26-year-old defender Erik Sviatchenko to leave the club on loan and return to his home country with former side FC Midtjylland, after falling down the pecking order on Parkhead this season.
It leaves Rodgers with 19-year-old Kristoffer Ajer and 23-year-old Jozo Simunovic, as well as the shaky Dedryck Boyata while new signing Compper has been sidelined for four weeks. Experience is required to replace youngsters Ajer and Simunovic, while Boyata has not been good enough of late.
Signing players from England has proven to be successful for Rodgers, with Moussa Dembele, Scott Sinclair and Olivier Ntcham being lured north of the border and impressing.
A commanding defender with plenty of Premier League experience would be the best move for Rodgers, and that should see him rival Brighton for £2million-rated veteran James Collins.
The Sun claim Chris Hughton has readied a bid for the 34-year-old, and he could be allowed to leave the club this month with only a matter of months remaining on his current contract at the London Stadium.
Although the former Wales international is not the most glamorous of signings, his reliability and defensive leadership has been crucial in steadying the ship at West Ham since David Moyes arrived in the dugout.
It would see him bolster the Celtic defence, as well as helping Ajer and Simunovic’s development off the pitch. At £2million, and with the Daily Star claiming he earns £35,000 a week, Collins is more than affordable for Celtic.
Landing Collins would give Rodgers the depth to play a three-man defence, something which Collins is used to at West Ham, as well as leaving him necessary funds to improve elsewhere.
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