Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are in urgent need of another central defender this winter.
Celtic’s need for a new central defender is perhaps best evidence by the amount of games Nir Bitton, a defensive midfielder, has had to play there this season – already into double figures.
Kolo Toure’s retirement has left only Dedryck Boyata, Erik Sviatchenko and Jozo Simunovic as specialists in the role, and all three have experienced fitness issues a some stage this season.
A £5 million move for Reading’s Liam Moore was mooted by the Daily Record this week, but the English side have since insisted their player will not be sold.
Though regarded as one of the Championship’s best defenders, Moore, 24, is yet to be properly tested at any level higher than that.
And Celtic could land themselves a more experienced – and arguably better – one for free this winter.
Dynamo Kiev’s Domagoj Vida has 51 caps for Croatia and won league titles with both the Ukrainians and their namesakes, Dinamo Zagreb – the club at which he was succeeded by Simunovic.
What’s more, his contract with Dynamo expires at the end of 2017, allowing him to sign for a club of his choosing in the new year.
And though plenty of big clubs are already said to be circling – Besiktas, Everton and AC Milan among them – there is no harm in Celtic trying their luck.
Could Celtic land Vida?
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