Imagine him & Jota: Rodgers plotting Celtic swoop for £75k-p/w “pitbull”

On Friday morning, having reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, the Hoops discovered that they will be taking on six-time champions of Europe Bayern Munich in the first knockout round, with the first leg at Parkhead coming up in under a fortnight.

Domestically, Brendan Rodgers’ side have already beaten Rangers in the League Cup Final at Hampden and sit ten points clear at the top of the Premiership table, with a game in hand, on course for an unprecedented sixth treble in just nine seasons.

However, off the park, before Monday’s January transfer deadline, the Hoops have plenty of work to do in the market. Despite having already bolstered their left flank with the return of Jota, the Portuguese wizard could be joined by a new partner in the coming days.

Celtic seeking defensive reinforcements

According to a report by Stephen McGowan for the Daily Mail, Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia is ‘on Celtic’s list’ of potential left-backs to sign before Monday’s deadline.

Why? Let’s break down the situation.

20-year-old Álex Valle, who made 19 appearances for the Hoops during the first half of the season, was recalled by Barcelona this week so he could be loaned out to Serie A side Como, with Rodgers praising the Spaniard’s “fantastic” contribution, stating his “disappointment” that he’d left, intimating this was not Celtic’s decision.

Meanwhile, also in his pre-Aston Villa press conference, Rodgers confirmed that Kieran Tierney had agreed a pre-contract with the club, which will see him return to Glasgow in the summer, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reporting that Arsenal have blocked the Celts’ attempts to bring this move forward.

Thus, right now, Greg Taylor is the only recognized left-back in the squad, and even he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Back in September, Rogers described it as a “priority” to tie the “fantastic player” to a new contract, with the Daily Record claiming Taylor ‘wants to stay’, although a report by Croatian outlet Jutarnji List claims GNK Dinamo Zagreb have’sent an offer’ as they attempt to sign the Scotland international on a Bosman.

Taylor certainly divides opinion; former Celtic striker Chris Sutton believes his old side “must upgrade,” but journalist Josh McCafferty describes him as “such an intelligent player,” adding he “thoroughly deserves a new deal.”.

Well, whatever you think of him, Taylor is going to rack up plenty more minutes this season, unless a high-quality deputy or rival does indeed arrive, with the aim of combining with Jota—or Daizen Maeda—down the left flank.

What Tyrell Malacia would bring to Celtic

As Fabrizio Romano has reported, Manchester United are attempting to offload Malacia, who currently earns a whopping £75k per week, given that they’re about to sign a new left-winger, namely Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, costing around £30m.

Portuguese newspaper Record believes Benfica are ‘currently negotiating’ with Manchester United over a potential loan deal, but Celtic are still in the mix too, as are Real Betis, according to Caught Offside.

Malacia didn’t make a single appearance between 28 May 2023 and 28 November 2024, a period of 550 days, due to a knee injury, specifically an issue to his left meniscus, before making his long-awaited return in the Europa League against Bodø/Glimt, also starting in Bucharest on Thursday, his ninth appearance of the season.