Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata won’t be leaving the club during the January transfer window, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Belgian international’s contract expires at the end of the season and is showing no signs of extending his deal at Celtic Park, meaning that selling him this month would be the only way to bring in a transfer fee for him.
However, Rodgers has ruled that out, telling supporters that the player will see out the remainder of his contract.
As quoted by The Daily Mail, the Hoops boss said: “He will just stay calm and see out the season and see where he’s at. There will be interest in him, of course, but nothing concrete at the moment.”
When asked whether he would like to see the player stay at the club beyond this season, Rodgers went on to explain: “Yeah, it’s something we would want, of course. He’s a very, very good player. He’s entitled (to decide his own fate), he’s within his rights in the last year of his contract and he’s at an age where he can wait and see whether it’s a new contract at Celtic or a move. It’s a big next contract for him.”
Clearly the manager has not given up on keeping the 28-year-old at the club but there is an acceptance from most supporters that he will be moving on come the end of the season.
Although the lack of incoming fee for him could be seen as a blow, it is heartening to me that we are intent on keeping him while we are in the middle of a Scottish Premiership title race.
Despite his off-field transfer dramas, the Belgian has proven himself to be a reliable performer this season and losing him now would be a big blow to the starting eleven.