Brendan Rodgers has appeared to rule out a move for Wolves’ out-of-favour right-back Dominic Iorfa.
The Hoops are still in the market for a replacement to Mikael Lustig. Rodgers has already told the club that only splashing the cash will it result in a proper replacement, as opposed to penny-pinching.
One of the names mentioned, however, was Wolves’ Iorfa. Speculation was rife that Celtic could make a move for him in the summer as his contract runs out. As he can play at both right-back and centre-back, he has strong versatility.
But Rodgers, according to the Scotsman, has denied the he’s ever thought about looking into a deal for Iorfa. The Celtic manager only stated that Iorfa wasn’t one that he was aware of, and didn’t go into any further detail.
If any deal was going to go ahead for Iorfa, you have to imagine it would happen now. Celtic need an immediate replacement for the toiling Lustig, who’s given the club seven terrific years of service since signing from Rosenborg.
If the manager isn’t interested then it can’t happen
But if Rodgers hasn’t heard anything regarding a move, and hasn’t even registered an interest, this can’t be a goer. Despite the fact Lee Congerton finds his own targets to put to Rodgers, this deal now feels extremely unlikely. It’s surely not the case that Rodgers is linked with certain players before Congerton even brings them to his desk.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
What that could mean, however, is that a move for Porto’s Fernando Fonseca could be in the pipeline. Rodgers also said he had nothing to say on that deal, but he wasn’t as dismissive as he was with Iorfa.
Fonseca would reportedly cost the club around £2million. But he’s the only other right-back Celtic have been linked with in recent times.
Moves for Timothy Castagne and Omar Elabdellaoui don’t appear to have taken off. But like it or not, Celtic need someone with some quality to come in desperately and replace their Swede.
One thing seems pretty certain now – it won’t be Iorfa.