Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat to Stuttgart was the defender’s first start since December 20. Under contract until 2029, Celtic are vying with Mainz, Lorient, Nice, Torino and relegation threatened Valencia for an agreement until the end of the season. 

Signed from Young Boys for £7.8million, Amenda has played just 330 minutes in the Bundesliga and 135 minutes in this season’s Champions League.  

While Eintracht Sporting Director Markus Krosche is reluctant to let the defender leave the player is unsatisfied by his minutes on the pitch and, speaking last week, agent Jose Noguera Rodriguez promised to look closely at options this month. 

“In January, we will examine all the options that are best for his sporting development,” said Rodriguez. “Should an opportunity arise where Aurèle gets the playing time he deserves, we will seriously consider it.  

“Until then, he will continue to give his all for Eintracht and behave professionally. Aurèle is grateful for the opportunity in Frankfurt, but his career is at a crucial juncture where decisions need to be made.” 

Eintracht coach Dino Toppmoller is sympathetic to Amenda’s plight saying last week: “In his position, I would have liked to speak with the coach as well. He wants to play more, and the World Cup is just around the corner. It’s perfectly normal for a player to ask about his situation.” 

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Casting doubt on the club’s willingness to let him go Toppmoller added: “I think Aurèle might have played one or two games too few in the first half of the season, 100 percent. In the games he was on the pitch, you could see that he’s a very good player. He’s a very important player for me.”  

Keen to get new signings in before next weekend’s top of the table clash with Hearts at Tynecastle, Martin O’Neill believes the club are ‘closer’ to new faces. 

Playing down links with West Ham striker Callum Wilson, despite persistent links, Celtic are also looking at Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie, options for the right flank and a right-sided central defender to deputise for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers. 

“Remarkably, I think we are definitely a bit closer,” said O’Neill, in response to growing exasperation amongst supporters clamouring for new faces. “I dread these interviews. I really do. I dread the questions coming up. I can’t wait until the 2nd or 3rd of February.”