Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has been linked with Leicester City and Newcastle United.
Pundit John Hartson has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he doesn’t think there is any chance of Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers leaving the club for a move to Newcastle United.
Rodgers was lauded as a mastermind during his first two years as Celtic boss, as he guided the Bhoys to two successive treble-winning campaigns, and even went more than a year without a domestic defeat.
However, Rodgers has been linked with a Celtic exit of late, as the Bhoys failed to sign some of his top summer transfer targets, and he also couldn’t take his side into the Champions League this season after a qualifying defeat to AEK Athens.
League performances have been patchy this term, whilst murmurings of discontent between Rodgers and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell haven’t exactly helped the situation.
Rodgers was strongly linked with the Aston Villa job earlier this month, and after seeing his side thump Hibernian 4-2 at Parkhead on Saturday, another rumour emerged about his future.
The Sun reported that Leicester City were looking to Rodgers if they decide to sack Claude Puel, whilst Newcastle United are also keen as they consider life after Rafael Benitez – but Celtic would want a staggering £9million in compensation.
Now though, ex-Celtic striker and current pundit John Hartson has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he doesn’t care if Newcastle or Leicester want Rodgers, there is no way he is leaving, as he wants to help Celtic win 10 league titles in a row.
Hartson noted that either Premier League club could blow Celtic out of the water financially, but he doesn’t think Rodgers will be heading to Leicester or Newcastle any time soon.
“Brendan Rodgers is at Celtic to get them to 10-in-a-row. There, I’ve said it. And I’ll say it again and again,” said Hartson. ‘I don’t care of Newcastle are looking at him and thinking that he might be the man if they part company with Rafa Benitez or if Leicester are thinking that he might be a better option than Claude Puel. In terms of money both of these clubs could blow Celtic entirely out of the water both in terms of what they can offer on a personal level and on a transfer budget. But that isn’t what it is about for Rodgers.”
‘I know because he has told me personally than he is happy with his life and happy at his work in Glasgow. As I have said in this column already, if I end up with egg on my face then so be it and I am sure I won’t be able to open my phone without being reminded of it on a daily basis. But I honestly believe what I am saying. I think Brendan has his heart set on being the man to deliver the ten,” he added.
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