BRENDAN RODGERS is unlikely to follow up his interest in Chelsea’s wantaway midfielder Charly Musonda.
The 21-year-old Belgian youth international was linked with a loan move to Celtic in the summer.
However, the Hoops boss opted for French Under-21 star Olivier Ntcham who joined on a permanent deal after Manchester City accepted £4.5million for the player.
Musonda has now told the Stamford Bridge outfit he wants to leave in the January transfer window.
The youngster has been frustrated at the lack of first team opportunities under Antonio Conte.
He has started only one game in this campaign, scoring the third goal in the 5-1 win over Mark Warburton’s Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup in September.
Musonda, who had a spell on loan at Real Betis last season, still has two years of his Chelsea contract to run.
The London side rate him in the £5million bracket, but could be prepared to allow him to leave on another temporary contract until summer.
Rodgers has admitted he will be making moves in the next transfer window, but a new centre-back will be his priority target.
The Parkhead gaffer thought he had found the solution to the injury problems that have beset Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko when South African side Ajax Cape Town accepted an £800,000 offer for international defender Rivalso Coetzee.
However, the proposed deal broke down when the 20-year-old stopper failed a medical.
Rodgers admitted: “I will look to go into the market in January.
“When you are winning and strong, that’s when you have to strengthen, but it’s always about availability and affordability.”
Meanwhile…
We think the @FoundationCFC Sleep Out volunteers were in decent spirits as the event drew to a close…. #SpiritofCeltic #KoloKolo☃️❄️ pic.twitter.com/tQzEXSNM4a
— Jane Maguire (@Maguire07) November 12, 2017
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