Should Celtic regret failing to follow up interest in Neven Subotic?

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Celtic desperately need to add a central defender to their squad.

Brendan Rodgers has completed two signings this month at Celtic, but the Hoops manager desperately needs to re-enter the January transfer window for a new centre-back.

German defender Marvin Compper has joined the club from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, while youngster Lewis Morgan has completed a move to Celtic before being loaned immediately back to St. Mirren.

However, 32-year-old central defender Compper has suffered a calf injury that has made him a doubt for Celtic’s Europa League Round of 32 ties against Zenit St. Petersburg which take place on February 15 and 22.

Erik Sviatchenko has returned to Danish giants FC Midtylland on loan until the end of the season, leaving Rodgers with just Kristoffer Ajer, Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic.

Ajer is still a teenager and the challenge of Zenit is surely too big for the Norwegian. Boyata’s error-prone reputation refuses to go, while Simunovic continues to suffer a number of niggling injuries.

A new centre-back is required, and that will make it all the more frustrating for Celtic fans to see reported January target Neven Subotic join French side St. Etienne from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer.

The Hoops were interested in signing 29-year-old Serbia international Subotic, according to German media outlet Fussballeck, but instead Dortmund have confirmed that the powerful defender will move to France.

Dortmund stated on their official website that due to Subotic’s loyalty to the club, which has seen him remain at the Westfalenstadion for almost a decade after joining from Mainz in July 2008, they agreed to terminate his contract.

That has allowed St. Etienne to snap up the defender on a free transfer. It is a move that Celtic fans will be annoyed to see, as Subotic’s calibre and experience in European football would have made him the perfect signing.

On a free transfer, Rodgers will have made one of the coups of the January transfer window. Instead, he will have to look elsewhere with the knowledge that he is unlikely to pull off a transfer as good as Subotic for nothing.