Celtic’s recent problems at centre-back have shown how important Dedryck Boyata is to the club.
The likes of Filip Benkovic and Kristoffer Ajer missed the recent 2-0 win over Hibernian which saw Boyata return to the side after his own injury problem. The big defender didn’t put a foot wrong as the Hoops strolled to victory.
Boyata is a player that Celtic would no doubt like to keep at the club for years to come. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look likely to happen.
His contract runs out at the end of the season, and as yet there is no indication that he will sign a new one.
Celtic could have sold the player in the summer. Fulham had a bid rejected and Brendan Rodgers was adamant that he would not be sold.
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That was a calculated gamble, as it means the Hoops could lose him for nothing at the end of the season. Rodgers must have felt it was a gamble worth taking, and it has been so far.
Boyata has helped the Hoops to the top of the league and into the last sixteen of the Europa League.
The contract issue won’t go away though. If Brendan Rodgers could persuade him to sign a new deal it would be a huge boost for the Hoops.
It would mean that they don’t need to desperately recruit a new centre-back for the Champions League Qualifiers. It would also provide a bit of continuity at centre-back.
Will Boyata still be at Celtic Park next season? It’s too early to tell. But the Hoops can’t give up hope just yet of keeping him.