Should Celtic try and sign the Newcastle United defender in January?
Jozo Simunovic was ruled out of Celtic’s Champions League clash at Bayern Munich tomorrow.
This puts Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers in a tricky position but it only serves to remind the Northern Irishman that he is short on quality centre-halves.
Rodgers has to choose between Erik Sviatchenko, Kristoffer Ajer or Nir Bitton to partner Dedryck Boyata at the Allianz Arena – far from ideal back-up options and the Celtic boss surely must rectify a summer mistake and sign a centre-back in January.
Fortunately for him, a brilliant one in the form of Newcastle United’s Ciaran Clark could be available.
The Shields Gazette reported on Monday that Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez plans to partner fit-again Florian Lejeune and Jamal Lascelles in central defence.
That’s a decision which could see Clark confined to the bench – and the 28-year-old can’t afford to spend the next seven months on the bench. The Republic of Ireland defender might be going to Russia next summer but failing to play regularly would do his chances of making the plane no good at all.
Clark has been excellent alongside Lascelles for much of the season due to Lejeune’s injury, and if he’s good enough for the Premier League then he’s good enough for Celtic.
The former Aston Villa man, a £5 million signing in 2016, should most certainly be considered by Rodgers if his situation at Newcastle develops as expected come January.
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