Celtic reject £9m Fulham bid for Dedryck Boyata as Cottagers target major additions before transfer deadline

Celtic have rejected an offer from Fulham understood to be worth £9million for defender Dedryck Boyata, their manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.

The Belgium international is in the final year of his contract and has not played for Celtic since returning from the World Cup.

Fulham have been keen to add numbers to a defence shorn of several key components from last season and are set to secure the loan signing of Calum Chambers from Arsenal for a £1m fee.

Head coach Slavisa Jokanovic wants more, including a new left back, and Rodgers has confirmed that the Cottagers put in a bid for Boyata.

READ MORE: Why Kroenke’s sole ownership is bad news for Arsenal fans

READ MORE: Chelsea identify Courtois replacement

READ MORE: Boateng urged by Ribery to snub Man Utd and Arsenal

Rodgers said: “We have had a few enquiries and there was a confirmed bid by Fulham for him. We know he is in the last year of his deal.

"He has been a fantastic player for me in my time here, he had an excellent World Cup when he played.

"He is clearly a player of value and, at this point in time for us, he is very important and the club rejected that.

"At this stage it would be pretty difficult for us to sell him because there is not a replacement there."

Fulham are understood to be in the market for several reinforcements before Thursday’s transfer deadline and would like to add a defensive midfielder and striker as well as two new defenders.