Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is reportedly on the lookout for a new central defender.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during training
According to the Daily Mail, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers wants to sign a new defender in January as Efe Ambrose is set to leave the club, whilst Eoghan O’Connell is allegedly poised to join Kilmarnock on loan.
The Bhoys manager has enjoyed a superb start to life at Celtic Park, dropping just two points in his first 12 league games, whilst he’s also made Celtic competitive in the Champions League again.
Rodgers has only had one transfer window as Celtic boss, and whilst signings like Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele have made a huge impact, he will know that more additions are needed in January.
Now, the Daily Mail report that Rodgers is keen to land a new central defender during the January transfer window, with two current Celtic centre backs set to leave the club in 2017.
Dundee United’s Chris Erskine in action with Celtic’s Efe Ambrose
Rodgers did bring veteran Kolo Toure to the club over the summer, but he’s almost 36 and out of contract at the end of the season, whilst his recent errors mean that an upgrade could be found anyway.
Erik Sviatchenko and Jozo Simunovic are Rodgers’ other options, and whilst they’re solid, Celtic are allegedly on the lookout for more competition during the January transfer window.
Eoghan O’Connell scores for Celtic
Rodgers’ search for a new defender comes as the report claims that 28-year-old Efe Ambrose – Celtic’s error-prone defender who has been frozen out under Rodgers – is set to leave the club in January after almost five years in Glasgow.
Additionally, it’s claimed that young centre back Eoghan O’Connell will also leave in January to play first-team football, and Celtic will loan him out to Scottish Premiership rivals Kilmarnock for experience in the new year.
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