OPINION
Celtic really missed a trick by not pouncing on securing a reunion with midfielder Stefan Johansen as he was clearly there for the taking in January when you consider he moved to West Bromwich Albion.
The 28-year-old left Fulham on transfer deadline day in order to join West Brom on loan for the rest of the season (Source: WBA’s official website), and it seems Celtic should have acted to at least tempt the 28-year-old midfielder back to the club.
Johansen previously flourished at Celtic ahead of leaving to join Fulham in 2016 as he played 114 times for the Scottish giants.
In his outings for the club the midfielder scored 19 goals, while assisting 22, and showed everyone that he was a player that could make a real difference.
Johansen is a slick passer of the ball, always looking to go on the attack for his side and makes thing happen, as well as have just enough aggression that seems him be an asset to his side.
It’s clear that Brendan Rodgers’ midfield would have benefitted from Johansen arriving at the club, especially given the fact he already knows Celtic well enough that he would have hit the ground running.
Also when you consider that Fulham let the midfielder go out on loan rather than slap an extravagant price tag on the player’s head, Celtic could have afforded to borrow his services.
There’s also the fact that given that West Brom left it late to get Johansen at the Hawthorns, Celtic had plenty of time to beat them to the punch yet it seems they didn’t even consider a reunion with the midfielder.
It’s a shame and clearly a missed opportunity on Celtic’s part as a reunion was needed to help improve Rodgers’ side for the second half of the season.