Why Brendan Rodgers must retain Dedryck Boyata at Celtic at all cost
The Dedryck Boyata transfer saga has been dominating the headlines all summer at Celtic. According to Daily Record, the Belgian international is being chased by a host of clubs across Europe.
The 27-year old did not travel with the squad for the Hoops’ crucial UEFA Champions League qualifying game against Athens, which they ended up losing.
The stand-off intensified last week after Boyata returned to first-team training but again failed to travel for the Europa League playoff clash with Suduva, with the manager claiming that the player wasn’t “physically or mentally” ready to play (h/t Daily Record).
So, it was a big shock when Rodgers brought the defender from the cold for the Premiership clash against Hamilton Academical this past weekend. And as fate would have it, the Belgian international scored the winning goal for the Bhoys, sending them to the second place in the table.
Although the centre-back was jeered by the fans throughout the game, Rodgers went on record to say that he would be happy to keep the player at the club.
Celtic find themselves in a difficult situation with regard to Boyata. The 27-year-old, who currently earns wages in the region of £14,000-per-week, is in the final year of his contract with the club. However, based on his actions in the last couple of weeks, his intentions to leave are crystal clear.
Should the Bhoys not sanction a sale, they risk ending up with a player who is unhappy and will also miss out on making any profit from his sale, considering he is likely to leave for free when his deal runs out next summer.
On the other hand, Rodgers must also think about the defensive crisis his team currently finds itself in. The Hoops are without the services of Jozo Simunovic and Jack Hendry, both of whom are sidelined with injuries. Meanwhile, January signing Marvin Compper has spent more time out on the sidelines than on the pitch since arriving at Parkhead.
With Kristoffer Ajer the only other option at the manager’s disposal, the Scottish champions find themselves thinly stretched at the back. Considering the dodgy start they have had to the new campaign, losing a player as experienced as Boyata won’t be the most ideal scenario for the club.
Retaining him might not be the most ideal solution right now but the current situation demands Celtic to hold on to the defender. And if the player manages to churn out performances like the one against Hamilton this past weekend, he should reingratiate himself with the fans sooner rather than later.
