CELTIC are going into perhaps the biggest transfer window under Brendan Rodgers and even just the biggest window where the expectations are so high in quite some time.

After last January, and then the summer nonsense, Celtic have not come out of either of the last two windows stronger than they went in.

While all the talks are about who is coming in, there is very hushed chat about potential players going out. With some fringe players destined for the Celtic scrap heap there is one player, in particular, the club and Brendan Rodgers are desperate to hold onto but as the days go by and the clock ticks, it seems increasingly unlikely Dedryck Boyata will sign a new deal.

Former Celtic striker, John Hartson is worried the defence could be severely weakened in January should any of the clubs who looked at the Belgian in the summer come back in.

“I am worried we might lose Dedryck Boyata in January.” Hartson told the Evening Times.

“The Belgian has been badly missed and with six months of his contract to go, would the club turn down, say, £6m next month or lose him for nothing in the summer?”

If Celtic do sell the Belgium International it would leave a massive hole in the side in January but with Benkovic heading back to his parent club next summer, there will be a whole new defensive pairing come the start of next season.