A TURKISH newspaper has claimed that Jason Denayer has once again knocked back an opportunity to join Celtic and is instead holding out for a move to Galatasaray.
However Fotomac claim that Celtic have made a loan move rather that the permanent transfer move that we believed to be the case. They also claim that the Belgium defender has also rejected a chance to join Leeds United.
Denayer spent last season on loan at the Turkish champions and clearly has an affinity with the club. He is surplus to requirements at Manchester City and has been out on loan for three years now, including of course his season at Celtic when he played alongside Virgil van Dijk and picked up the Young Player of the Year award.
He featured for Belgium in the Euros in 2016 but was nowhere to be seen at the World Cup, ironically his place was taken by Celtic’s former Manchester City defender Dedryck Boyata.
Boyata is currently the subject of intense transfer speculation with Fulham anxious to complete a move for the defender today, backed by a £12million bid.
Brendan Rodgers has ruled that out though and after Kristoffer Ajer picked up a yellow card last night against AEK, resulting in a suspension for the return in Athens, Boyata will be needed for that vital game.
The door is open for a move later in the month with Rodgers confirming that there is interest from Spain and Italy for the player.
Denayer’s representatives have been in contact with Celtic but if Fotomac is correct then it’s going to be the third time that Celtic have tried and failed to bring back the player to the club.
An agreement was in place in 2015 provided Celtic reached the Group stages of the Champions League – a condition imposed by Manchester City. Celtic though lost to Malmo in the the qualifiers and Denayer went to Turkey instead.
