Celtic move for FOUR new players as transfer activity ramps up with Jota style loan and Alistair Johnston type targeted

Brendan Rodgers’ main priority in the coming days is to bring in a central defender to help ease Celtic’s backline issues.

Frustrating injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki means the Hoops are down to the bare bones in terms of central defensive options. The trio are all likely to be out for about eight weeks and Rodgers wants a short-term replacement.

New signing Gustaf Lagerbielke has been plunged straight in while Liam Scales has been brought back into the top-team fold. Rodgers is looking at either a loan or a year’s contract but would prefer to bring in an experienced head, who will not only help the team but also some of their younger players off the park. Rodgers’ former Leicester City star Jonny Evans would fall into that category but he is on a short-term deal at Manchester United and looks set to extend that agreement for the rest of the season.

Celtic already have a deal agreed with Aris for Honduran winger Luis Palma. His £3.5 million deal is expected to be announced soon. Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernando is another player Celtic are seriously interested in. They would be keen on a Jota-style loan although there is also strong European interest.

Rodgers is also keen to add a striker. Celtic were interested in Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden but never tabled a bid. Stories in Denmark have since claimed that Brondby have dropped their asking price and a deal could still be done.

Another famous old Celtic name in Van Hooijdonk has also been linked. Pierre’s son, Sydney, at Bologna is a name that has been suggested as a striking alternative.

A left-back is also on the shopping list to provide competition for Greg Taylor and Alexandro Bernabei. The identity-fit is someone in the