Celtic should rival Rodgers former side for Tottenham’s Walker-Peters

Follow us on Google Discover

Celtic are likely to be scouring the market for additions ahead of the January transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers was quoted by the Scottish Sun last month as saying that Celtic need to add a central defender to their squad as injuries continue to pile up, with Jozo Simunovic the latest Hoops casualty.

Croatian defender Simunovic was ruled out for almost a month towards the end of October with a knee injury, a similar problem to the knock that has kept the 23-year-old sidelined for much of the 2017-18 campaign.

The former Dinamo Zagreb defender has joined the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko on the sidelines at times this season, highlighting the need for a new centre-back.

Belgium international Boyata has now returned to full fitness, but it has still seen the likes of Nir Bitton, Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney play in the middle of the defence on occasion this term.

However, Rodgers should look to mould Sweden international Lustig into a centre-back, with his lofty frame and aerial prowess much more suited to playing at centre-back.

That would open up a gap on the right side of defence and Rodgers should look to play tug-of-war with former side Swansea City in the race to land Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker-Peters.

The Sun claims Swansea are eyeing a loan move for the 21-year-old, with Spurs willing to send him out temporarily for the second half of the 2017-18 campaign as Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier sit ahead of him in the pecking order.

Making three Tottenham appearances this season including his debut against Newcastle, the England Under-21 international has shone on the right side of defence.

Offering speed, a defensive maturity but also the willingness to get forward and whip the ball into the box, Walker-Peters looks as though he is moulding his game on the impressive performances of England international Trippier.

Adding the youngster to his ranks, Rodgers would shore up his defence as well as adding quality in both the defensive and attacking areas of his side – if he can change Lustig into the centre-back Celtic are crying out for.