Celtic completing a deal to sell this key first-team player could be a real loss for Brendan Rodgers

Why Dedryck Boyata will be missed if he is sold by Celtic this summer

Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata has not travelled with the squad to Greece to face AEK Athens for the crucial Champions League clash. The Scottish Sun claims that Boyata has refused to play for Celtic again. His agent, Jacques Liechtenstein, has revealed that the player won’t put his career at risk after being denied a £9million move to Fulham this summer.

Following Boyata’s refusal to travel with the Bhoys for an all-important Champions League clash with AEK, it remains to be seen whether the Belgian has played his last game for the club after rejecting a contract extension at Parkhead (h/t Scottish Sun). Boyata is in the final year of his contract and could leave Celtic for free next summer.

With only one year remaining, it could be time for Celtic to sell if they can’t agree to a new deal with Boyata. However, the Belgian’s departure would leave a huge void in Brendan Rodgers’ squad. Losing a quality centre-back will be a major setback for the club at this vital stage.

Boyata joined Celtic from Manchester City in the summer of 2015, and he has gone on to establish himself as a powerful performer at the back. He has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming a vital cog of the squad that won the double treble this past season. The Belgian is a resourceful player for the Hoops, due to his undeniable quality and versatility.

Boyata enjoyed a great World Cup campaign when he deputized for the injured Vincent Kompany at the heart of the defence for Belgium in the group-stage games. The 27-year-old was solid, commanding and reliable for his country and it goes without saying that he has returned on the back of a positive campaign.

However, things haven’t panned out as one would have thought and after his agent’s comments, Celtic must cash in on the Belgian while his value remains high. Boyata is one of the best defenders on Celtic’s books and his potential departure will be a massive blow for the Glasgow giants. With the likes of Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic underperforming this season, Rodgers is in dire need of a player like Boyata.

If Celtic receive an offer for Boyata, they should accept the money and move on to find a replacement. As the Belgian stopper is seemingly unhappy, it does not make sense to retain him since his mind will clearly not be in the right place.

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It is an absolute shame to see Boyata and Celtic at loggerheads but it is better for Rodgers to sell him instead of keeping a player who doesn’t want to be there. Let’s hope Rodgers finds a replacement but Boyata will be truly missed at Parkhead.