Celtic consolidated their position at the summit of the SPFL on Wednesday evening amid growing rumours that Olivier Ntcham has emerged as a target for West Ham United, though Neil Lennon shut down those rumours in the aftermath of proceedings.

But could the Bhoys still bring another face into the club before the January deadline passes?

Celtic have already moved to sign Patryk Klimala and Ismaila Soro this month in a pair of deals that should give them a much needed boost during the final months of the season.

However, a recent verdict from Celtic’s correspondent for The Athletic, Kieran Devlin, suggests Lennon could strengthen the entirety of the club’s spine by adding a central defender to his squad before the window slams shut.

Indeed, when asked about the possibility of the Bhoys re-signing Filip Benkovic from Leicester, Devlin suggested the door is still open for a late twist.

“A possibility but unlikely, nothing concrete from either side.”

As they say, it’s the hope that kills you.

While there’s certainly no major indication from Devlin that the popular Croatian powerhouse is likely to return to Paradise, it seems there is still room to manoeuvre if the club decide to push for a late deal.

Given Benkovic is yet to play a single minute of Premier League football under Brendan Rodgers this season, a fact that underlines his peripheral status, there is certainly reason to suggest a temporary loan deal would at least be beneficial for the player.