Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Dedryck Boyata won’t be at the Hoops long-term despite improvement over the last 18 months.
The Belgian international’s contract runs out at the end of the season, with no sign that he is willing to extend his stay in Glasgow beyond that.
The 28-year-old has been one of Celtic’s stand-out performers since coming back into the team after a fall-out with Rodgers and club officials due to a bid from English Premier League side Fulham being rejected.
Rodgers is under no illusions that his performances mean he is staying though.
As quoted by The Daily Record, the Hoops boss said:
Dedryck will leave at some point. You look at him now and you see he is really defined now as a player who has gained great confidence the last two years, the last 18 months in particular.
Going to the World Cup, he has proven there at a good level that he can play with world class players.
He is entering into his years at 28 where he can show it. I have always said when he is concentrated that he is a top class player.
For us, he is a big player for us, every game he has been showing that.
As demonstrated again last night, the Celtic defence needs all the help it can right now and losing Boyata in January or next summer without adequately replacing him is a big worry for supporters.
Jack Hendry is struggling to prove himself and Rodgers appears to have lost all faith in Jozo Simunovic. With Filip Benkovic only here on loan, it leaves the Hoops with another looming transfer crisis when it comes to filling the position.
Here’s hoping plans are in place to sort it all out when the January transfer window opens.