Celtic have rejected Fulham’s £9m offer for centre back Deydrick Boyata, according to reports this afternoon.

The Scottish giants are determined to hold onto the Belgian international, who starred during the early stages of this summer’s World Cup, and remain hopeful that the former Manchester City defender may yet extend his contract at Celtic Park. Boyata, who has won three successive titles since moving north of the border from Manchester City, has less than a year to go on his current deal – and Fulham’s scouts watched him extensively in Russia, where he deputised for Vincent Kompany at the heart of the Belgian defence.

Fulham are intent on bringing in additional cover at centre back, given the impending suspension of Denis Odoi and the fact that new signing Alife Mawson is likely to miss the first month of the new season. The Whites are eyeing up another move for Boyata as well as closing in on the loan capture of Arsenal centre back Calum Chambers. The Daily Mail suggests that Fulham are willing to increase their bid for Boyata to around £12m. Whether that offer will be enough to secure the second chance in the Premier League that the imposing defender apparently craves, remains to be seen. A move may be dependent on Celtic securing additional defensive resources themselves, given that Brendan Rodgers currently only has two fit centre halves at his disposal.