Celtic should not let Burnley sign Jozo Simunovic despite potentially huge profit

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Celtic need defensive reinforcements before the end of the transfer window and losing Jozo Simunovic to the Premier League wouldn’t be a good start.

Celtic could hardly have started the season in more convincing fashion. Three out of three in the league and with one foot and four toes in the Champions League following their 5-0 first-leg hammering of Astana, Brendan Rodgers’ side have picked up where they left off last term.

However, while the results may not show it, recent injuries have highlighted a potential weakness in Celtic’s squad which could be exploited by handier opposition both at home and abroad.

With Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata ruled out and Kolo Toure released at the end of last season, central midfielder Nir Bitton (below) has been forced to step into the back four in recent weeks. And while the Israeli international has performed impressively, providing the platform for a clean sheet against Astana, he appears more a short-term stop-gap than a long-term solution.

Therefore, reports in the Scottish Sun that Premier League outfit Burnley are planning a move for centre-back Jozo Simunovic should strike fear into Celtic’s heart.

The report claims that The Clarets have identified the Croatian as a potential replacement for Michael Keane and are willing to bid £10 million while hoping that the lure of England’s top flight convinces Simunovic to swap a title fight for a potential relegation scrap.

Celtic are used to losing their key players to the Premier League and a hefty windfall would certainly burn a hole in the Scottish champions’ pocket. However, with just over a week of the transfer window remaining and the Champions League group-stages beckoning, Celtic would have little time to find an adequate replacement for Rodgers’ first-choice centre-back.

If anything, Celtic need more defenders and the prospect of losing Sviatchenko, Boyata and Simunovic (below) simply does not bare thinking about.

Therefore, although a £10 million fee may be tempting just two years after Celtic paid Dinamo Zagreb £3 million for Simunovic’s signature (Daily Mail), keeping the squad together is more important than a quick profit.