Celtic's dream starting XI after January transfer window including £11.5m duo and returning Hoops favourite

Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been linked with a move to Celtic | BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

A look at how Celtic could line up in the Scottish Premiership after the January window has slammed shut

Celtic are busy preparing for the January transfer window - but there is not expected to be any radical changes made by manager Brendan Rodgers to his squad this winter.

The Hoops are flying high at the Scottish Premiership summit and are on track to reach the Champions league knockout stages after picking up eight points from five games to date.

Barring any late injury-related concerns, Rodgers could look to make a few minor adjustments by sending out the likes of fringe trio Odin Thiago Holm, Maik Nawrocki and Luis Palma on loan to get valuable minutes under the belt after struggling to make their mark on the first-team this season.

Kieran Tierney - Arsenal

One name that is expected to be on the lips of almost every Celtic supporter in January is former Parkhead fan favourite Tierney. The Scotland defender ended a five-month injury absence by returning to Arsenal’s first-team pool for their Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon earlier this week. He has been sidelined since June after suffering a hamstring tear but remains out of favour under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates. Whether that could open the door for Celtic to make a January loan swoop remains to be seen.

Lennon Miller - Motherwell

The Fir Park prodigy has been strongly linked with the Hoops in recent months as his reputation as a star of the future continues to grow within the Scottish football circle. The talented Scotland youth international will undoubtedly move on to a bigger club in the near future and Motherwell value him at around £4m currently. Could Rodgers look to reshuffle his pack and plot a move to snap up the 18-year-old in an area they remain particularly strong in.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha - Royal Antwerp

Celtic could also reheat their interest in the Belgian winger after previously being linked with the 23-year-old during the summer window. There had been reports that Rodgers had spoke to the player at the time. Balikwisha, who started his career at Standard Liege, remains under contract until 2026 and is also attracting interest from clubs in France.

Mathias Kvistgaarden - Brondby IF

An unlikely one given his Norwegian club were asking for £8.5m for the striker in the summer, but Celtic have had a long-standing interest in the 5’8’ Danish talisman and that could resurface again in January. Has been one of Brondby’s top performers in recent seasons but his lofty price tag remains a possible stumbling block.

Here’s how Celtic could line-up after the January transfer window has concluded...

Kasper Schmeichel - GK
Alistair Johnston - RB
Cameron Carter-Vickers - RCB
Auston Trusty - LCB
Kieran Tierney - LB
Callum McGregor - CM
Arne Engels - CM
Lennon Miller - CM
Nicolas Kuhn - RW
Mathias Kvistgaarden - ST
Michel-Ange Balikwisha - LW