Celtic have been suffering due to frequent injuries to their defenders, with Jozo Simunovic being the ruled out for three weeks recently with his Achilles tendon problems. The former Liverpool boss has stated that he would look to sign defenders in the January transfer window and here are three central defenders he can assess to bolster his ranks.
Axel Tuanzebe (Manchester United):
Rodgers has been perennially known to shepherd the youngsters with potential in an appealing manner by affording them the requisite pedestal to showcase their calibre. Under his tutelage at Celtic, the likes of Kieran Tierney, Moussa Dembele and Patrick Roberts have blossomed really well and thus, Manchester United’s prodigy, Axel Tuanzebe could very well be a name he could look to lure to the Celtic Park in January.
Having already made his name for being a fine tackler with the qualities of a genuine leader, Tuanzebe is capable of plying his trade at the centre-back slot as well as the defensive midfield.
He is someone who reads the game very well and his pace and athleticism hasn’t gone unnoticed. However, the19-year-old’s chances this season in the first-team setup of the Red Devils look bleak and thus, the Hoops should try to rope him into their ranks to cater to their defensive needs.
Malang Sarr (Nice):
Nice’s Malang Sarr is another youngster who has the potential to play for a massive club like Celtic. Sarr is predominantly a centre-back but is capable enough to play effectively from the right-back position and having shown his productivity in Ligue 1 last season, his stocks have risen massively and impliedly, many clubs are expected to line up for him to make him sign on the dotted line in near future.
The 18-year-old has shown that he is very comfortable on the ball, plays the ball out from the back meticulously and makes shrewd tackles and interceptions to save the blushes of his employers. Besides, he is fast, is good in the air and is an excellent passer of the ball and the Frenchman ticks almost all the boxes of a quality signing for the Glasgow based outfit.
Marc-Oliver Kempf (SC Freiburg):
Having emerged through the youth ranks of Eintracht Frankfurt, Marc-Oliver Kempf is a highly rated youth prospect who currently operates as a centre-back for Bundesliga outfit SC Freiburg. Despite being a 22-year-old, he has already accumulated more than 50 appearances in the German top division and has proven his mettle with the German U21 side as well. If the Celts manage to prise him out of Schwarzwald-Stadion, he would be a handy addition to Rodgers’ arsenal.
