Fulham: Celtic’s Dedryck Boyata is their top defensive target

Reuters/MAX ROSSI

The Scottish Sun are reporting that Belgium international defender Dedryck Boyata is a top target for Premier League side Fulham.

Boyata impressed during Belgium’s first three World Cup games and has just one-year left on his Celtic contract.

Jovanovic and Fulham are hoping that a cut-price deal can be agreed for the defender, with the price likely to be at most £10 million. 

Does he want to leave?

27-year-old Boyata began his career at Manchester City but found himself out of the first-team picture during most of his tenure there, he only played 34 games for City.

Reuters/FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS

Since moving to Celtic in 2015, Boyata has become a rock at the heart of their defence and has helped fire them to three straight SPL titles during his time there.

But does he want to stay with the Bhoys? He said this in a recent interview: 

“Right now, I am concentrating on the World Cup. I am not thinking about my future.“I still have a year on my contract and we will see after the summer if I continue with Celtic again.”

Hardly decisive and the vultures have circled the defender hoping to get his talents on board for this coming season.

Is he Premier League caliber?

Boyata would fall into the unproven category as he has never been given a proper run in the Premier League. His time at Manchester City saw him feature predominantly as a fringe player and as a homegrown player for their Champions League squads.

Since leaving for Celtic he has grown and improved as a player, benefitting from more game time and European football.

Reuters/HANNAH MCKAY

But the competition in Scotland is hardly at the level of Premier League opponents, making it hard to know exactly what level Boyata is at. 

At the World Cup, he impressed for Belgium, but those games were against Panama, Tunisia and a second-string England side. Since then he has been dropped in favour of his former teammate Vincent Kompany. 

Boyata would fall into the wildcard category, and for under £10 million would be a risk worth taking for a Premier League side looking for some cheap options. 

It would certainly be no surprise to see Boyata in England next season.

Would Boyata be a good signing for Fulham? Let us know in the comments below!

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