As per a report from Greek outlet SDNA, Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers are interested in making a swoop for AEK Athens defender Vassilis Lambropoulos in the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old Greek international is in the final year of his contract with the club and is likely to be sold on the cheap in the winter window. And the Gers are hoping to capitalize on the situation by launching a bid to sign the centre-back.
Steven Gerrard’s side have a number of options at the heart of the defence, having signed Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic in the summer, before bringing in Joe Worrall on loan from Nottingham Forest. The Light Blues also recruited seasoned defender Gareth McAuley on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract at West Bromwich Albion. And hence, the need for another addition at the heart of the defence does seem redundant at Ibrox at the moment.
However, if there is one club that would benefit from signing a new centre-back in the January transfer window, it is Rangers’ arch-rivals and reigning Scottish champions Celtic.
The Hoops yielded their top spot in the league table this past weekend to their bitter rivals, following a 0-2 defeat away to Hibernian FC. It has been far from a solid season for Brendan Rodgers’ side with injuries and a rather poor summer transfer window hampering the consecutive treble-winning outfit.
The central defence has been a bit of a bothersome area for the Bhoys. Mainstay Dedryck Boyata tried hard to force a move away from Celtic Park in the summer transfer window and given that he will be entering the final six months of his deal in January, the Hoops might have to cash in on him, instead of losing him on a free at the end of the campaign.
Jozo Simunovic has started recent matches, but his injury record doesn’t inspire confidence at all, while Jack Hendry has been anything but impressive since joining the club last January. Marvin Commper has spent more time out on the treatment tables than on the field for the Hoops, while Filip Benkovic, who has impressed this term, will be returning to parent club Leicester City once his loan deal expires at the end of the term.
Given the predicament that the Hoops find themselves in, they would certainly stand to benefit from rivalling Rangers in pursuit of Lambropoulos and beating their rivals for his signing.
The 28-year-old has been with AEK Athens for more than four years now and has amassed 135 appearances, scoring 5 times and setting up one more. During his time with the club, the two-time capped Greek international has won a league title and a domestic cup.
Lambropoulos has some degree of experience in European football, having represented Athens on ten occasions in continental competitions and will be able to provide cover at right-back and in the defensive midfield areas as well, having played in those positions previously in his career.
Experienced, reliable and versatile, the 28-year-old Lambropoulos has the capability to be a hit at the Parkhead and what makes him an even more attractive proposition is the fact that he will be available on a bargain owing to his contract situation. Certainly an opportunity Celtic shouldn’t let go of.
