Boyata is currently in the last 12 months of his contract at Celtic.
Celtic icon Frank McAvennie has told Open Goal’s Right In The Coupon that Brendan Rodgers should sell Dedryck Boyata this summer if he does not sign a new deal, and wants a new central defender.
Boyata, 27, has entered the final 12 months of his Celtic contract and will be available on a free from next summer, or indeed a pre-contract agreement to non-Scottish clubs from January 1 – if he does not sign a new deal.
The Daily Record claim Celtic have entered talks with the Belgium World Cup star over a new deal, with Fulham and Lyon keen on signing the former Manchester City star this summer.
McAvennie said that if Celtic are to sell Boyata, Rodgers must cash in this summer but believes that a bit of experience is required to help young defenders Kristoffer Ajer and Jack Hendry at the back.
“They’ve got two talented boys in Hendry and Ajer, but to go a full season you need a bit of experience,” McAvennie said. “With Boyata, they’re talking about him not signing and going.
“If they’re going to sell him, this is the time to do it, because he’s done well in the first couple of games at the World Cup. If they want money for him, this is the time to sell him.
“I would like someone to come in, with a bit of experience to help the two young boys.”
Boyata has missed Celtic’s first four Champions League qualifiers as he continues to recuperate after participating for Belgium at the World Cup, who beat England 2-0 to finish in third place.
He made 39 appearances for Celtic in all competitions last season, helping the club keep an impressive 21 clean sheets as well as finding the back of the net himself three times. He is currently earning £14,000 a week at Celtic (Daily Star).
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