OPINION
Celtic are slightly thin in the midfield department but Brendan Rodgers failed to add another recruit to his side that can operate in the middle of the park before Thursday’s deadline.
The 48-time Scottish champions have lost Kouassi Eboue to a long-term knee injury after the Ivorian limped off the field against Kilmarnock earlier this month, during Celtic’s 5-0 win in the Betfred Cup.
It leaves Celtic with just Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham in the middle of the park, with Stuart Armstrong preferred in the number 10 role and Nir Bitton currently offering cover at centre-back.
Rodgers’ side are competing on four different fronts this season after qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League, and injuries are likely to be succumbed on a regular basis with rest periods also required.
A new central midfielder is needed but the Hoops must look to the free agent market if they are to land a new signing in between transfer windows.
Step forward former Celtic ace Joe Ledley, who is currently looking for a new club after being released by Premier League side Crystal Palace earlier this summer.
The 30-year-old is still in the peak of his career and still has a good reputation among Hoops fans, following his four-year spell with the Scottish champions between 2010 and 2014.
The 73-time Wales international helped Celtic hold aloft three Scottish Premiership titles during his time at Parkhead, making 157 league and cup appearances for the Hoops.
He scored 30 goals as well as adding 24 assists, having a hand in a goal once every three games from the base of Celtic’s midfield and his hard-working style of play could be key to Celtic’s Champions League campaign.
Rodgers’ side will be without the ball against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, as they face the duo as well as Belgian champions Anderlecht during the first half of the 2017-18 season.
Celtic will want to to go one better than last season and qualify for European football after Christmas, with Celtic targeting third place in Group B which will see the Hoops qualify for the knockout phase of Europa League football.
On a free, Ledley would be the perfect signing due to his past experience with Celtic and his commitment to the cause with Rodgers looking to build a side capable of completing another treble.