It was a massive blow for Neil Lennon to lose Celtic defender Christopher Jullien over the weekend.
His knee injury appears to have kept him out for several months. Now, all eyes will be on who replaces him and who Celtic will move for in the January window.
And it certainly looks like we’ll move for another addition before the first month of the year is out. Speaking after the loss to Rangers, Neil Lennon said the following via the Daily Record:
“It is an area where we will probably look to bring someone in. He is going to be out for a few months. He has ruptured ligaments in his knee. Obviously that was a blow coming in to the game but I thought we were good.”
This came after a massive transfer blow arrived last week. Mark McKenzie had been linked with Celtic since the summer. However, the Philadelphia Union centre-back is reportedly set to move to Genk instead of Parkhead. It’s been said that Genk are willing to pay more than what the Hoops initially were (Philadelphia Inquirer).
Celtic close to missing out on a replacement with pedigree
So many of those unsure of McKenzie as a potential Celtic signing will turn around and say he’s unknown. That anyone who’s pushing for him to sign for Celtic are just doing so because it’s fashionable. That none of us have actually seen him in action.
Well, as an avid watcher of the MLS, I can safely say McKenzie looks by far the real deal. Too many are quick to laugh off the quality of the MLS, but it’s improved drastically over the last five years or so. McKenzie has come up against the likes of Gonzalo Hiaguain, Carlos Vela, and Josef Martinez respectively.
He’s come up against a sensational level of talent on a weekly basis. He’s not just held his own either – he’s excelled and become a shining light in the States. McKenzie ended the season as the runner-up for the MLS Defender of the Year award. He also signed off with his second senior appearance for the USA national team. In addition to that, he led the Union to their first-ever MLS Supporters’ Shield and is efficient on the ball and when going long.
All of that and the Bronx-born powerhouse is only 21. He fits Celtic’s profile when it comes to young players who can be developed and sold for a heavy fee. Don’t tell me this is a deal Celtic shouldn’t be all over.
Better yet, he sounds like he’s right up for a move to Glasgow (Sky Sports). He sounded all for it, and once again it looks like we’re now missing out on a top young talent because we don’t want to spend too much.
Now, with Jullien’s injury, this looks like an even bigger blunder. Celtic could do a lot worse than try to throw a late spanner in the works here.
In other news, the Celtic supporters couldn’t unite as they responded to an official club video yesterday.
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