Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers should try again for Cristian Piccini in January

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In the summer, one area where it appeared clear that Celtic needed to improve was at right-back. The Bhoys were struggling in that position with Mikael Lustig getting older and Cristian Gamboa never truly looking good enough.

One player who reportedly entered their radar was Cristian Piccini. The Sporting Lisbon defender, formerly of Real Betis, was wanted by another side that played in green-and-white.

As reported by The Daily Mail, the Italian was wanted by Celtic in the summer as it became clear he could leave Sporting relatively cheap. In the end, he headed back to Spain. He joined Valencia in a £7 million deal. Such a fee could have been in Celtic’s wheelhouse and would have given them a superstar of a right-back in Scottish football.

Instead, the La Liga side got their man and Celtic failed to bring in a new right-back option.

Time to move on. Or maybe not?

Celtic might want to try again for the player in January.

Piccini started the season in Valencia’s starting XI. However, poor form and an injury have now seen him lose his place to Daniel Wass, with Ruben Vezo also being preferred.

It caused local paper Deporte Valenciano to ask if Piccini should be loaned out in the winter.

Celtic should certainly consider asking that very question.