Celtic broke their all-time transfer record to sign Odsonne Edouard in the summer transfer window which cost around £9m. However, with the transfer money of Moussa Dembele, the Hoops could do some significant business in the January transfer window as well, and we believe they need to go in hard to sign Aberdeen centre-back Scott McKenna. The Scottish international was linked with a move to Celtic Park last month, and there were even reports that the Hoops put in a £3.5m bid which was rejected by his current employees. They were demanding somewhere around £10m for the 21-year-old.
Luring a player in the January transfer window is often hard as clubs tend to avoid selling stars mid-season and jeopardise their ongoing campaign. However, money shouldn’t be much of an issue for the Hoops after they sold Dembele for close to £20m on the last day of the recent window.
The primary reason for the Hoops to get this deal done is the interests from Europe in star defender Dedryck Boyata, who could be tempted to quit, like in the summer. Mckenna will be an ideal long-term replacement as he is just 21 and has already shown how he is matured beyond his age while playing for Aberdeen and Scotland.
McKenna has all the makings of a modern-day centre-back as he is comfortable on the ball and firm while defending. The Scottish international can even be termed a future captain if the Hoops make a move for him. The defender is also comfortable in playing a high line which Rodgers usually deploys. Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic were average at best when Boyata was unavailable, and if he leaves, the Hoops might struggle in his absence.
The price tag here will be the major cause of concern as Aberdeen could demand close to £10m, especially in the January transfer period. But such is today’s day and age that the managers need to splash that kind of cash to get quality players, and McKenna will surely be a quality addition to the Bhoys squad.
However, if Boyata decides to stay on till the end of the season, maybe Rodgers can wait on Mckenna. The key here will be to get things sorted quickly and not let the situation meander like the way it did in Moussa Dembele’s case.
Rodgers should hold clear talks with Boyata, and if there is a reasonable offer for him in January, then they should wrap the deal as early as possible. It will allow them to make a swift move for Mckenna.
