Celtic are slightly thin in the midfield department but Brendan Rodgers failed to sign any midfielder that can operate in the middle of the park before Thursday’s deadline.[spacer height=”20px”]
The 48-time Scottish champions have lost Kouassi Eboue to a long-term knee injury after the Ivorian limped off the field against Kilmarnock earlier this month, during Celtic’s 5-0 win in the Betfred Cup.[spacer height=”20px”]
It leaves the Scottish giants with just Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham in the middle of the park, with Stuart Armstrong preferred in the number 10 role and Nir Bitton currently offering cover at centre-back.[spacer height=”20px”]
Celtic are competing on four different fronts this season after they qualified for the group stages of the Champions League, and injuries are likely to happen on a regular basis with rest periods also required.[spacer height=”20px”]
A new central midfielder is needed but Rodger’s side must look to the free agent market if they are to land a new signing in between transfer windows.[spacer height=”20px”]
Step forward former Hoops ace Joe Ledley, who is currently looking for a new club after being released by Premier League side Crystal Palace earlier this summer.[spacer height=”20px”]
The 30-year-old is still in the peak of his career and still has a good reputation among Hoops fans, following his four-year spell with the Scottish champions between 2010 and 2014.[spacer height=”20px”]
The 73-time Wales international helped Rodgers side hold aloft three Scottish Premiership titles during his time at Parkhead, registering 157 league and cup appearances for the Hoops.[spacer height=”20px”]
He netted 30 goals as well as creating 24 assists, having a hand in a goal once every three games from the base of Celtic’s midfield and his hard-working style of play could be key to their Champions League season.[spacer height=”20px”]
Rodgers’ side will be without the ball against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, as they face the duo as well as Belgian champions Anderlecht during the first half of the 2017-18 season.[spacer height=”20px”]
Celtic will want to to go one better than last season and qualify for European football after Christmas, with Celtic targeting third place in Group B which will see the Hoops qualify for the knockout phase of Europa League football.[spacer height=”20px”]
On a free, Joe Ledley would be the perfect signing due to his past experience with Celtic and his commitment to the cause with Rodgers looking to build a side capable of completing another treble.[spacer height=”20px”]
