Ronny Deila has talked down an early move to sign Dedryck Boyata from Manchester City.
News of Celtic’s interest in the 24-year-old defender broke yesterday afternoon with Deila preparing for a Champions League qualifying campaign that starts in two months time.
Jason Denayer’s return to Manchester City coupled with speculation that Virgil van Dijk could leave has made central defence a priority when the transfer window opens.
Asked about Boyata after the 0-0 draw at St Johnstone Deila admitted: “We are talking with a lot of players now and are trying to strengthen our squad. Boyata is one of them.
“We will see if we can make it or not. I try to keep the conversation to myself until everything is done. You never know in football.
“What is positive is we are trying to get quality players to strengthen our team for next season.
“It can be hard but we want to get our business done early. We want to start up in late June having added some players to the squad.”
Boyata is in the final year of his contract and has been on loan spells to Bolton and Twente Enschede recently without making much of an impact, this season he has made two Premier League appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s team.
After City’s 4-1 win at Sunderland in December Pellegrini said: “It’s the same team that played last game except the two centre-backs because Kompany was injured and Mangala was suspended.
“Demichelis was playing very well before his last game. He played against Swansea and did very well so I trust him a lot.
“I think that Boyata is working very well and now he has options to demonstrate what he can do in this team. It’s not easy to play here because we have important players in that position [centre-back]
“But in the year-and-a-half that I have been here, every time I have called on him, every time that he has played he has done very well. He has improved every day and now he’s got a chance to demonstrate.”
Boyatais likely to have offers from England but following Denayer’s path to Celtic may suit the club better.