Celtic close in on RB Leipzig defender Marvin Compper
Celtic hope to tie up a move for RB Leipzig centre half Marvin Compper — with the German international topping Brendan Rodgers’ January wish-list.
Paired with Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 of the Europa League on Monday, Rodgers hopes to address his side’s defensive frailties by recruiting the vastly experienced defender at the turn of the year.
Still with 18 months to run on his present deal, 32-year-old Compper has found himself marginalised as free-spending manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has remodelled the squad which finished second in the Bundesliga last season.
RB Leipzig centre half Marvin Compper is at the top of Brendan Rodgers' January wishlist
Celtic would require to pay a fee for the player but he won’t be able to take any part in their Europa League campaign.
Compper first burst on to the scene with Borussia Monchengladbach, moving to Hoffenheim for five years before an 18-month spell with Fiorentina.
He returned to Germany to help Leipzig win promotion to the top flight but is now seeking to move to a club where first-team football is a more realistic proposition.
Rodgers has also been linked with Astana’s Ghanaian midfielder Patrick Twumasi but a move is unlikely to materialise.
The Celtic manager welcomed the pairing with the Russians on Monday which will see a first leg in Glasgow on February 15 with the return in Petersburg seven days later.
Zenit, now managed by Roberto Mancini, are second in the Russian top flight after drawing 0-0 with FK Akhmat on Monday but now enter a winter shutdown that will still be on when they travel to Scotland.
Rodgers is looking forward to facing Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Europa League next year
Rodgers remains hopeful that any lingering ring-rust can work in his side’s favour.
‘If you look at it in reverse, it’s a little bit like the challenges we face at the end of a season, coming straight into it,’ he said.
‘And some of the teams we have to play in qualification are already in season. Naturally, it’s difficult. They have their last game tonight and then they’re off on their winter break.
‘Then they will be back, I suppose, sometime in January, trying to get ready for that game.
‘They will have a breather, a break and they will have winter training somewhere. Then they will be back. Of course, if you are in rhythm, in mid-season, it is better but they will see it as something they just have to get over.’
Part of the 56,000 capacity Krestovsky Stadium will be closed for Celtic’s visit after UEFA hammered Zenit supporters for displaying political banners.
Russian football also has a history of racism but Rodgers, who took his Liverpool team there in 2013, insists he has no fears about his players being targeted.
Roberto Mancini will be back at Parkhead when he brings his Zenit side to Glasgow in February
‘I have to say, this was something I was made very aware of before the last game we played out there because of the reputation they had within the stadium,’ he added.
‘I was aware of that side of it. But I have to say, in our game and our travel there, we didn’t have anything. It was a real intense game. Liverpool had a lot of supporters there, Zenit as well, but we had no issues with it whatsoever. There was huge policing there, but we had no issues with it.
‘Whether it’s football or society, there is no call for it.
‘In terms of speaking to our players about it, we’ll think about that nearer the time.’