As reported by the Daily Express, Torino are set to renew their interest in Celtic's star defender Jozo Simunovic this January after failing to land the Croatian in August.

What's the story?

Celtic's Jozo Simunovic has emerged as one of their top first team talents under Brendan Rodgers but the defender could be set for a shock exit with Serie A side Torino ready to bid again for the centre-back.

The Express reckon Torino are making room in their first team squad for the Croatian, placing Cesare Bovo on the transfer list.

The paper reports that the Italian side are keen to finally bring him to Italian football after the summer saga involving the two clubs.

Simunovic actually travelled to Italy to have a medical in August and passed it. However the club still had reservations about his potential playing time and according to the Express tried to change the deal to a loan at the last minute leaving Celtic little option but to reject.

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Would Celtic want to sell?

Simunovic has become a key part of Brendan Rodgers' defence and his status at the club is much changed compared to the summer transfer window.

Celtic have nursed him back to full fitness expertly, taking care not to overplay him on his return to first team action.

They've been rewarded with some excellent performances, both domestically and in Europe. The big defender has helped Celtic keep 8 clean sheets in his 13 appearances so far this season.

He's also starting to form a formidable partnership with Erik Sviatchenko and Celtic fans are hoping it's a partnership that can be retained through next year's European qualifiers at least.

Britain Soccer Football - Celtic v Rangers - Scottish League Cup Semi Final - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 23/10/16
Celtic's Jozo Simunovic in action with Rangers' Jason Holt 
Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith
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Would Simunovic want to leave?

The big defender appears to be enjoying his football in Glasgow and after a turbulent year is focused on the club's ambitions this season.

He's already tasted trophy success, part of the side that destroyed Aberdeen 3-0 in the Scottish League Cup final last month.

In the wake of that, Simunovic was adamant he was happy to have stayed at Celtic rather than move to Torino.

Quoted by The Sun, he said: "If I had gone to Torino and watched Celtic win this cup, I would have been sad to miss it. But Torino is over for me now. I just look to the future with Celtic."

That doesn't sound like a player that wants to leave anytime soon and it'd likely take a big offer from Torino, both in transfer fee and wages, if they're to land someone who has become an important player for Brendan Rodgers.

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