There is a selection of Celtic supporters who think Maik Nawrocki should still be at the club.
But, at the end of the day, if Brendan Rodgers is going to continue to snub the Polish defender, and even leave him out of matchday squads, then he isn’t of any use to Celtic.
That’s why Nawrocki was loaned out to Hannover 96, who are in Germany’s second tier, for the rest of the season, and they do have an option to buy him at the end of the deal.
Celtic haven’t exactly been blessed with quality at the heart of defence, especially towards the back end of last season.
So, it makes it even more baffling that Nawrocki didn’t earn more starts and has now left, but at least he is appreciated elsewhere.
Maik Nawrocki lauded after Celtic exit
Hannover are a pretty big club, and they are looking to get out of Germany’s second tier. If Nawrocki helps them do that, then he will become an instant hero.
Upon signing for the German outfit, the club’s managing director, Marcus Mann, was lauding and applauding the centre-back’s skill set and qualities.
It makes for interesting reading because, whilst Mann is describing Nawrocki like he is the next coming of Paolo Maldini, you wonder what the powers that be at Celtic see in him because it’s clearly something different.
“Maik is a central defender whose game is characterised by great clarity and composure,” explained Mann on Hannover’s website.
“He anticipates very well, reads the game, and performs his defensive duties through good heading and high-tackling skills.
“After winning the ball, he carries out his play very cleanly and possesses the necessary technical skills to directly initiate the transition play and position the players in front of him through shifts or passes into the gaps.”
More changes at centre-back for Celtic?
With Nawrocki out of the door, Celtic have signed Hayato Inamura from Japan, but he could be loaned straight back out.
And now, Celtic have been linked with Dutch defender Justin de Haas, as Rodgers searches for that long-term partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Liam Scales and Auston Trusty were the two battling for regular spots last season, but they weren’t able to cement their place in the XI, and they aren’t exactly popular with the supporters.
Either way, you sense that this is going to be one of the most important areas Celtic need to deal with ahead of that opening game against St Mirren.
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