John Hartson believes that Scott McKenna can still be a Celtic player.
The hoops had a bid in the region of £4m rejected by Aberdeen in August with Aston Villa and Wolves also linked with a move for the defender.
On Saturday McKenna got away with a brutal lunge at Odsonne Edouard that went unpunished by Bobby Madden and did little to suggest that he is any better than the defenders that Celtic already have.
Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic are unlikely to start next season as Celtic players forcing Brendan Rodgers to return to the transfer market for that position.
Hartson loved a good physical battle with a defender and believes that the Dons defender could help solve Celtic’s problem position.
Discussing McKenna he told the Evening Times: “I actually really like the boy as a player although who knows if Odsonne Edouard feels the same.
“I actually think McKenna is an old-fashioned centre-half who is winning the ball no matter what – and there have been many times when we have thought that is exactly what Celtic could do with.
“To me it is up to the referee to police a game. I thought that Edouard should have had a penalty and McKenna booked.
“Neither happened and you can see why Celtic were aggrieved that it was allowed.”
Yesterday McKenna was named in the Scotland squad for the international double header against Israel and Portugal- alongside six Celtic players.