Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praises former Everton star Steven Naismith, who reportedly wanted to move to Ibrox club Rangers in January 2018 when Graeme Murty was in charge of the Gers.
Steven Naismith at Rangers
The former Liverpool manager has suggested that Everton should not have sold Naismith, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a forward.
The Scotland international was on the books of Ibrox club Rangers from 2007 until 2012 before he moved to Everton.
The Toffees sold the 32-year-old to Norwich City in January 2016 for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £8.5 million, and the attacker is now on loan at Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian from the Canaries.
Celtic manager Rodgers has raved about Naismith – who wanted to move to Rangers in January 2018 and was willing to play for the Gers for free when Graeme Murty was in charge of the Ibrox club, as reported by The Scottish Sun.
Rodgers told The Daily Record about Naismith: “I think the catalyst for it all (at Hearts) is Steven Naismith.
“I was actually surprised when he left Everton in the first place to go to Norwich because I thought he was one of their key players.
“But I’ve got no doubts – without knowing him – of his influence because of the level he’s played at I’m sure along with the other players he’s definitely made them very strong.”
The former Liverpool manager added: “He was always a player I was impressed with wherever he played on the field. He had a good football brain, technically good with a good eye for goal.”
Stats
Naismith is one of the best attacking players in Scotland and is a key figure in the current Hearts team.
The former Kilmarnock and Rangers star has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 10 Scottish Premiership appearances for Hearts so far this season, according to Transfermarkt.com.
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