Celtic are pushing to replicate ‘schoolboy’ Lennon’s failure by signing a £13,000-a-week man

The January transfer window is set to officially open for business next month and it remains to be seen whether or not that happens Celtic It will be busy in the market.

Brendan RodgersThe team have already won a title this season, beating Rangers on penalties in the League Cup final on Sunday, and have been impressive in the tournament. Scottish Premier League And the European Champions League.

Celtic beat their Glasgow rivals on penalties at Hampden Park at the weekend after a thrilling 3-3 draw during normal time.

The Hoops have also won 14 of their 15 Premier League matches and are already nine points clear of Aberdeen in second place, showing they are on course for a fourth successive title.

Meanwhile, they lost just one of their six Champions League matches, losing 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund, their only defeat of the season in all competitions so far.

Despite the team’s impressive form, both domestically and in Europe, Rodgers and the club are said to be looking at potential signings to strengthen the squad when the January transfer window opens.

Celtic interest in the English defender

According to Football InsiderScottish club Celtic is seeking to sign Hertha Berlin right-back Jonjo Kenny to strengthen the defensive depth before the second half of the season.

The report claims the Hoops are monitoring the Bundesliga’s No. 2 full-back before potentially pouncing for his services next month, although there is no mention of how much the German side want for his services.

It states that Rodgers hopes to make additions to his squad in January to ensure his team can continue to compete on all fronts, with continued play in the English Premier League, Saudi Arabian Football Federation Cup and Champions League in the coming months.

Football Insider adds that Kenny is currently unlikely to complete his move to Parkhead due to his current history with the Scottish giants.

The England defender spent time on loan at Glasgow in the second half of the 2020/21 season and the report claims his poor experience during that period represents a stumbling block ahead of a potential return to Celtic.

Football Insider reveals that the Hoops are pushing for a deal to be done and, as a result, could be pushed to repeat the same mistake Neil Lennon made in 2021.

Jonjoe Kenny’s first spell with Celtic

The England Under-21 international arrived at Parkhead on loan from Premier League side Everton in the winter transfer window at the start of 2021, as the club looked for a replacement for Jeremy Frimpong.

Bayer Leverkusen had pounced on the Dutch star in January, and Kenny was subsequently brought in on a short-term deal to start at right-back until the end of the season.

Unfortunately, the Englishman ended up playing a part in a side that failed to secure a tenth successive Premier League title, with Steven Gerrard’s Rangers eventually winning the league.

Lennon, who brought Kenny to the club on loan, was sacked later the same month and John Kennedy took caretaker charge for the remainder of the season, before being replaced by Ange Postecoglou – who arrived after the Everton loanee returned to Goodison Park.

As you can see in the table above, Kenny started all 14 of his Premier League matches but failed to impress, making numerous errors that led to opposition shots and also registering two assists.

He was accused by Football Insider pundit Noel Whelan From the defense of “pupil”. After his poor pass led to a corner kick and subsequent marking led to Alfredo Morelos’ goal in the Old Company’s 1-1 draw.

The same critic went on to say that Kenny was one of the players who “Not good enoughHe will likely leave the team and never return at the end of the season, as his loan has expired.

Why should Celtic avoid Jonjoe Kenny?

Celtic are said to be seeking to bring back the 27-year-old for a second spell and risk repeating Lennon’s failure with the ‘schoolboy’ defender.

Firstly, signing a player who has already tried and failed to impress at Parkhead, as part of a poor team that failed to win the title, would immediately put him on the defensive with the fanbase, which is not an ideal situation for a player. Coming halfway through the season.

And his performances in the Bundesliga for Hertha Berlin this season do not suggest that he will come in and improve Celtic’s squad, which means the Hoops would be taking a big gamble – given his disastrous first spell – by bringing him in behind.

the £13,000 per week The defender has He started 16 matches In the second division of German football, he contributed one goal and created two “big chances” for his team.

This shows that he has not provided a consistent, high-quality threat at the top of the pitch from right-back, which is what Rodgers gets from his current first choice in the role – Alistair Johnstone.

As you can see in the table above, the Canada international offers a much greater attacking threat while also being less vulnerable defensively.

These statistics suggest that Kenny, who has already struggled at Parkhead in the Premier League once, is unlikely to come in and offer Johnston an upgrade.

That’s why Rodgers and the recruitment team must opt ​​to avoid a move for the Hertha Berlin defender next month, and identify alternative targets to come in and strengthen their squad.