Premier League side Southampton wanted Erik Sviatchenko in January 2017 but the Celtic centre-back was not on their radar after Virgil van Dijk’s exit.
Celtic had the chance to make a substantial profit on Erik Sviatchenko almost a year ago.
The Sun stated that Southampton had lined up the Danish centre-back as a replacement for another former Hoops defender in Virgil van Dijk. Leicester City were also interested in Sviatchenko, with the Foxes keen to freshen up an ageing back line.
And it goes without saying that the Premier League duo would have paid far more than the £1.5 million Celtic invested in Sviatchenko in January 2016.
Although the 26-year-old was happy at Parkhead and had no interest in making a move south of the border. 12 months on, however, it has become clear that Celtic, and Sviatchenko himself, should probably have seized that opportunity.
Because almost as soon as the January transfer window slammed shut last year, Sviatchenko fell out of favour under Brendan Rodgers.
His decision to stay at the club coincided with the sudden and unexpected emergence of Dedryck Boyata. And with the Belgian forming a solid partnership with Jozo Simunovic, Sviatchenko was barely seen during the second half of last season and has been practically invisible this time round.
Now, the Scottish Sun claims that Sviatchenko is set to join former club Midtjylland on loan. And the prospect of Celtic earning a big fee for the defender’s signature looks more unlikely than ever after a year that has left his reputation in tatters and scuppered his chance of a move to the Premier League.
Southampton may be in need of a centre-back this month with Van Dijk gone. But the Daily Record stated that the Saints had no interest in reviving a deal for Sviatchenko.
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