JOZO SIMUNOVIC could be a transfer target for Burnley boss Sean Dyche in this transfer window.
Brendan Rodgers axed the Bosnian international centre-back after the defeat against Hearts and Kristoffer Ajer has partnered Dedryck Boyata in the four remaining games of 2017.
The Celtic boss has already said there will be comings and goings at Parkhead this month.
The Turf Moor outfit tried to land Simunovic for £10million in the summer, but the Hoops refused to sell during the Champions League qualifiers.
Dyche is now said to be ready to pay around £8million for the 23-year-old central defender.
Rodgers has already signed centre-back Marvin Compper from RB Leipzig with the £1million German due to check in this week.
The move is expected to signal Erik Sviatchenko’s departure from Parkhead with the frozen-out Dane set to be the subject of a £1.5million bid from Copenhagen, although Southampton have also been monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation.
“The manager has told me to find a new club,” Sviatchenko revealed.
“There have been clubs from several leagues who have contacted my agent. These are attractive clubs, so I’m looking forward to my future with optimism.
“My transfer value, of course, falls the less I play, but my qualities as a player don’t get worse – on the contrary.
“I feel I’ve developed a lot and I’m a far better player now than when I came to Scottish football.
“I have been happy with my stay in Celtic and Scotland, but I’m also pleased to be able to go to another club.
“I need to play regularly because I want to still have a chance of playing at the World Cup Finals in Russia.
“I accept it’s a small chance, but it can’t be ruled out that some of the established national team defenders get injured.”
Rodgers appears to have lost patience with Simunovic after a dreadful performance against Hearts followed by the production of yet another sick note for the midweek game against Patrick Thistle a few days later.
Rodgers had previously lamented the fact that the player was often unavailable and after Tynecastle he could have decided that enough is enough.
Jozo has long held ambitions to play in England and a move to Burnley may suit all parties.
Sviatchenko isn’t really the type of defender that suits Rodgers’ style of play and he has never been able to command any game time since returning from the injury he sustained in the Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg in Norway.
Now he has gone public to confirm the rumours that his time at Celtic is about to come to an end.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.
Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.
Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.
Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
