Premier League clubs line up Brendan Rodgers offers after Celtic latest
Celtic face a battle to retain Brendan Rodgers beyond this season with clubs across England and Europe interested in him, sources have told Football Insider.
Rodgers is well into the final year of his deal at Parkhead, and the 52-year-old revealed in his latest pre-match press conference that Celtic are yet to officially table a new contract offer ahead of next summer.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Rodgers will not rush into an immediate decision on his future in Glasgow and is currently in line to leave at the end of his contract.
Rodgers rejected suggestions that he wanted to leave Celtic and said he was “determined to succeed” ahead of Sunday’s clash with Kilmarnock, but that’s yet to translate to a breakthrough in contract talks.
Football Insider revealed on 2 September that Rodgers’ “unhappiness” with the Celtic boardroom has threatened to spill over in the wake of the summer transfer window, which has left his future in limbo.
Now, my sources have said that Rodgers will have no shortage of suitors if he does elect to leave Celtic next summer, with numerous Premier League and overseas clubs ready to offer him a new challenge.
Celtic set for ‘big job’ to keep Brendan Rodgers next summer
Football Insider revealed on 7 September that Nottingham Forest had lined up a move for Rodgers as a replacement for Nuno Espirito Santo, but they instead hired another ex-Celtic boss in Ange Postecoglou.
“Brendan Rodgers is in control of his own destiny right now”, I stated on the new Inside Track podcast.
“He’s in the final year of his contract, so if he wants to run down his contract and leave, there will be a number of takers who are ready to offer the former Liverpool manager a job elsewhere.
“It wouldn’t just be clubs in England, it’ll be clubs from Europe and from overseas as well who would be interested in Rodgers becoming their new manager.
“Celtic have a big job on their hands to try and keep hold of him.”
Brendan Rodgers backed to leave Celtic after summer turmoil
Football Insider revealed on 13 September that Celtic’s disgruntled fanbase is united behind Rodgers as their own frustrations with the board continue to increase at Parkhead, with protests at matches planned.
Rodgers’ continued pleas for better backing in the transfer market over the summer simply weren’t answered, with Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah both sold and no replacement found for Kyogo Furuhashi.
The arrival of Kelechi Iheanacho on a deadline day free transfer in the aftermath of Idah’s big-money sale to Swansea compounded the anger of the fans, and few would blame Rodgers for choosing to walk away.