Another transfer window is upon us and for the second time this season Dedryck Boyata has treated Celtic and its fans with contempt.
Boyata’s agent Jacques Lichtenstein has confirmed that his client will leave Glasgow in the summer, after rejecting any hope of the Belgian international agreeing to a new deal with the Scottish champions.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Lichtenstein said: “A new contract? Not an option. We are not even talking. We have plenty of choice. We are looking at every proposition.”
Many fans will be glad to see the back of the defender after his woeful performance against Rangers in the New Year derby as he played like he was on holiday rather than in a derby clash.
Couple that with Boyata trolling fans with a video on social media with a contract in front of him with a signing emoji emblazoned on the image – which saw some Celtic fans excited about the prospect of the defender staying.
The latest comments from Lichtenstein will see fans queuing up to drive the wantaway defender to the airport with a firm kick up the rear end as he boards the plane.
This follows on from Boyata’s controversial refusal to play for Celtic in the summer after they rejected a £9 million bid from Fulham ahead of their Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens, which Celtic lost over two legs and failed to reach the lucrative group stages of the competition.
It is expected that Boyata will sign a pre-contract deal with another club ahead of a move in the summer, but Celtic must show the defender the door this transfer window as his desire to quit the club could seriously damage the status quo among the Celtic squad as they aim for their eighth league title in a row.
What certainly must not happen is for the Belgian to see out the season at Celtic, playing like he did in the New Year derby. Nor should he pick up a wage while sitting on the bench or in the stand and while Rodgers still sees him as the number one defender at the club – he is a player with a mentality we do not need currently.
Whether some want to believe it or not, we have a dogfight ahead of us as Celtic’s poor performances this season has allowed the likes of Rangers and Kilmarnock to close the gap on them in the league.
Get the Manchester City flop out of our club now and free up his wages for a player that wants to come and play at Celtic Park – the squad already has enough passengers in it there’s no need for another one.