Christian Eriksen to Celtic whispers gain volume as D-day emerges for one star's return – Parkhead news bulletin
Christian Eriksen has reportedly been made available by Manchester United who are open to 'suitable offers' for the out-of-favour playmaker.
The Danish midfield maestro has been talked up as a viable option for Celtic in January but a number of factors, including the Hoops impressive depth of options and the player's reported £150,000 weekly wage, file it under unlikely. But it's a whisper that hasn't quite gone away, particularly with swelling suggestions that Brendan Rodgers is in the market for a new midfielder next month, Burnley's Josh Brownhill, Chelsea's Carney Chukwuemeka and Lyon's Mahamadou Diawara among those linked.
Sky Sports Germany are reporting that Eriksen will be available 'as early as the winter' should they get a 'suitable offer' for Eriksen, who turns 33 in February and is out of contract in the summer. It's likely they would prefer a sale, hoping to recoup a minor fee before his deal expires in six months, but if that isn't forthcoming then a loan deal that would offload a significant portion of his wages isn't a logical impossibility.
Speaking about a possible move for Eriksen earlier this month, former Hoops boss Neil Lennon told BoyleSports: “With the talent Celtic have at their disposal at the moment, I’m not sure that Christian Eriksen would get into the team. He is a classy player and always has been, but I’m not sure who he would come in to replace. You’d have to consider the wages he’d want as well. I can’t see it happening and I’m not sure it would suit the club at the moment.”
One player Celtic will have available from January is striker Johnny Kenny, who revealed he is set to return to the Parkhead for a 'pre-season' on January 3. He's been on fire on loan at Shamrock Rovers and is currently the joint-top scorer in the Conference League with five goals in five games. Rodgers previously admitted he was in the market for a third-choice striker and is likely to give Kenny the chance to prove he can be that man.
Celtic have nine games between Kenny's pencilled-in return date and the window closing on February 3, so he may get some minutes on the pitch to show he can be the No.3 behind Kyogo and Adam Idah. If he doesn't quite cut it, as he's previously struggled to, then Rodgers may dip into the market later in the window. But the fact he's heading back can be taken as an indication there will be no immediate rush to sign a new striker next month.
