OPINION
Celtic’s right-back issues are hardly something that have gone under the radar this season and while Brendan Rodgers has seen his side’s form improve over the last month, his defence could still do with reinforcements in January.
Mikael Lustig is someone who has been widely criticised at times by the Celtic faithful and players like Cristian Gamboa and Anthony Ralston have barely had a chance to show their worth in the team due to Rodgers’ insistence upon playing the Sweden international.
What further complicates things is that Lustig and Gamboa are both out of contract at the end of the season and clubs can start to table pre-contract offers to them after December 31.
That is why Rodgers must go out and attempt to sign Leicester City right-back Danny Simpson in January.
According to The Times, the 31-year-old has been left frozen out of at the King Power Stadium by Claude Puel and that means that he could potentially be available when the transfer window re-opens in under two months’ time.
Simpson was part of the legendary Leicester team that won the 2015/16 Premier League title but for whatever reason, Puel just doesn’t fancy him any more and the ex-Newcastle player has made just two appearances in all competitions this season.
The Bhoys should definitely be looking to lure him north of the border, and it could be a move that Rodgers is able to afford.
Statistics website Spotrac claims that Simpson earns £45,000-a-week with the Foxes and that his deal expires at the end of the season.
Simpson would surely take the chance to win more silverware before his career ends and he would be a massive upgrade on Lustig and Gamboa.
Paradise would erupt if Rodgers was able to sign such an established, experience right-back in January to finally end their calls for the Northern Irishman to strengthen that part of his squad.