The January transfer window is drawing ever closer, and Celtic may look to add some new faces to the squad as they improve under Brendan Rodgers.
The Bhoys have made an incredible start to life under Rodgers, and are coasting towards the Scottish Premiership crown, which would make it six league titles in a row.
Rodgers will not only want to make sure that Celtic clinch the title, but also hope to make smart additions to prepare the Bhoys for Champions League qualification over the summer.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele celebrates
With that in mind, here is a five-point plan for Celtic’s January transfer window…
Keep Moussa Dembele
Celtic landed a major signing over the summer by snapping up Dembele after his Fulham contract expired, and the Frenchman has been a sensation for the Bhoys so far. With 17 goals in 32 games in all competitions, Dembele’s stock has risen this season, and Glasgow Live recently reported that Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are all interested in signing him. Dembele has only been a Celtic player for six months, and it’s vital that the Bhoys fend off Premier League interest and keep their young striker, even if only until the end of the season.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass celebrates scoring
Make an audacious move for Robert Snodgrass
The Daily Record reported earlier this week that Hull City winger Robert Snodgrass has rejected a new contract with the club, and Celtic were on alert given that Rodgers is a huge fan of the Scotland international, and as the player himself is a boyhood Celtic fan. The 29-year-old has proven himself in the Premier League this season with five goals and two assists, and would be another audacious signing under the Rodgers regime after landing Dembele and Scott Sinclair last summer – though Snodgrass is unlikely to come cheap, as whilst his contract expires at the end of the season, Hull can trigger a 12-month extension in January. The left-footed midfielder possesses exceptional crossing and dead ball ability, whilst his versatility to play on either flank should also be appealing to Celtic boss Rodgers.
Scour England for pre-contract agreements
Celtic’s deal to sign Dembele saw them pay a ludicrously low amount of compensation due to a cross-border loophole, meaning players outside of Scotland under the age of 23 can move in cut-price deals. Dembele’s success means that Celtic must look to strike pre-contract agreements with players inside the last six months of their contracts, with a number of players eligible for such deals. Preston defender Bailey Wright, Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke and West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino should all be on the club’s radar as they head towards the end of their contracts, which would give the Bhoys some more talented young players at a low cost.
Add another midfielder
With Scott Brown now 31, Celtic should be looking to bring in another central midfielder to add some depth and give the Bhoys an option for the future. Stuart Armstrong has enjoyed something of a renaissance this season, but Nir Bitton has been on the fringes of the side, and Callum McGregor has been used in a number of roles this term. Reports from the Daily Mail recently claimed that Celtic are eyeing Crystal Palace misfit Jordon Mutch, whilst the Bhoys hosted Portland Timbers star Darlington Nagbe in November as they plot a move for the United States international, as reported by The Scottish Sun.
Clear out the deadwood
Whilst Celtic should be looking to bring in some quality new signings, Rodgers could also do to trim some of the new numbers from his squad, given that a number of players appear to be on the fringes of the side. Goalkeeper Logan Bailly, defender Efe Ambrose and attacker Nadir Ciftci appear to have little future under Rodgers, whilst the likes of Gary Mackay-Steven, Eoghan O’Connell, Kristoffer Ajer and Liam Henderson should be sent out on loan to play first-team football in the second half of the season.
What would you like to see Celtic do in January?
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