OPINION
Lee Congerton could leave Celtic on a high if he signs up Red Star Belgrade defender Srdjan Babic before his time at Parkhead draws to a close.
According to Sky Sports, the Hoops’ head of recruitment could head to Leicester to reunite with Brendan Rodgers after the Northern Irishman controversially walked out on the Scottish Premiership leaders last month.
Amid links of Congerton’s exit, there has also been a report of Celtic’s interest in Babic.
CNN Turk reported earlier this week that the Bhoys, Bestikas, Nice and Feyenoord are eyeing up the 22-year-old centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window.
It seems inevitable that Celtic are going to need defensive reinforcements in the summer, especially as Filip Benkovic will head back to Leicester when his loan expires and Dedryck Boyata is yet to sign a new contract despite his ending in June.
Babic would be a very solid replacement for those leaving and would also be an upgrade on the other centre-backs already at Parkhead.
The Serbia Under-21 international already has plenty of Champions League experience with Red Star, and has title-winning experience having lifted the Serbian SuperLiga last season.
Although the reputation of the Serbian top-flight isn’t as great as that in Scotland, it’s a much more competitive league than the Scottish Premiership and there are a lot of hidden gems there just waiting to be unearthed.
Babic could be one of them and the 6ft 5 (transfermarkt) would more than likely make a difference in the defence at Celtic Park.
He is also only 22-years-old, and could form a great partnership with 20-year-old Kristoffer Ajer.
That could be the backbone of Celtic’s success for the next few years and why Congerton should try to see to it that the Hoops sign Babic before he inevitably leaves for Leicester.