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Rodgers confirms interest in Denayer

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Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he considered a move for Jason Denayer as he attempted to bring in a central defender before the transfer window closed.

With five days remaining in the window Rivaldo Coetzee failed a medical leaving Celtic to look into other options.

Injuries to Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata highlighted the problems in that area while there was talk of bids coming in from England and the continent for Jozo Simunovic.

Celtic couldn’t consider any offer for the former Croatia Zagreb defender with Rodgers more interested in adding to his squad than cashing in on an asset.

We looked at Denayer but he had already made a promise to go back to Turkey three months ago and we respected that he didn’t want to break his word,” the Celtic boss told The Sun.

He has history here and would have done well but likewise we were looking at more senior ones.

It is easier to think: ‘Just get a centre-half’ but it needs to be the right one.

It wasn’t just a young one — we were looking at experienced ones as well but it is easier said than done.

If you are going to bring one in like that then they need to know they are going to come in and play. It is the oldest conundrum in the world for centre-halves.

If you bring in the wrong one then it can disrupt your changing room and that isn’t what we want to do, especially when we have talents here that we can develop and who can gain experience.”

Simunovic will make his first appearance in almost a month tonight at Hamilton when he plays on plastic for the first time as a Celtic player.

Boyata and Sviatchenko are still out of contention through injury which means that Nir Bitton or Kristoffer Ajer is likely to start tonight with the chance to play their way into the team to face PSG on Tuesday night.

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