Rodgers on Boyata
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the Scottish Premiership champions are keen to sign a new centre-back and that the plan is for Dedryck Boyata to remain at the club.
The Belgian defender made his return to the team yesterday but was greeted with boos a Green Brigade banner which read: “Boyata – not fit to wear the jersey.”
And with the transfer window closing this Friday, the Northern Irishman provided an update on Boyata’s future and Celtic’s transfer plans as they look to inject some belief into their campaign after a turbulent start.
Asked about whether Boyata will stay at the club or not, Rodgers said: “I’m not thinking anything other than that. He’s in his last year and you never know how the game works.
He told reporters: “Like I said to him, however long you are here – whether it’s a week or the rest of the season – your best place is on the training field and out on the pitch on a match-day.
“So we want him there. He’s been a big part of what we have done for the last couple of years.
“I respect that a football career is short and you have to maximise your playing time.
“We will see what happens this week but I’m not planning for anything other than Dedryck being here.
“He’s been pivotal to a lot of our really good performances since he came into the team 18-odd months ago.
“He’s a £10 or £15million-rated World Cup centre-half playing for us.
“It was a really good performance by him and that gives the stability to the rest of the team.
“But [central defence] is a position we’ll definitely be looking at.
“It’s a position where with the likes of Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic are injured, so it’s a position we’ll look at.”
Celtic and Leeds battle
Celtic are among the clubs battling it out to sign Wigan star Nick Powell.
Leeds and Celtic are on the hunt for more signings as the Championship transfer deadline approaches.
West Brom, Middlesbrough and Stoke City are all said to be interested in Powell.
The 24-year-old has scored three goals for Wigan already this season.
Tierney ‘100 per cent committed’
Kieran Tierney is delighted to have stayed at Celtic, despite interest from a slew of clubs.
Following his breakthrough season at the age of 17, the 21-year-old left-back has become one of the Hoops’ most consistent performers.
His impressive displays were rumoured to have caught the attention of several clubs, including Premier League duo Manchester United and Everton.
But Tierney has issued a statement of intent to stay at Celtic by revealing he was happy to snub interest from Premier League clubs.
“There was obviously a lot of talk at the start of the transfer window during pre-season, more than before, but for me it’s just about switching off and focusing on Celtic,” Tierney told the Daily Record.
“For me, it’s about focusing 100 per cent on Celtic. I know I give 100% every single day.
“The money being spoken about and what you can earn in England is life-changing. It’s crazy, isn’t it? Absolutely crazy.
“However, the money I am on, for someone at my age, is more than I ever thought I’d earn.
“My life has changed because of Celtic. I have them to thank for everything. I have given them everything, really all my life, and it’s paid off so far. I have enjoyed it.
“At the start of pre-season, that was when people were coming up and asking me what was going to happen.
“It has died down, nobody is talking about it so much now. But if a supporter asks me it doesn’t bother me. I’ll tell them the truth.
“And that is I’m 100 per cent committed to Celtic. That’s how it stands.”