Losing Tom Rogic to Southampton would be real hammer blow for Celtic

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Celtic star Tom Rogic is reportedly on Southampton’s radar ahead of the final year of his contract.

According to a recent report from the Daily Record, Southampton are taking a very close look at Celtic playmaker Tom Rogic with the intention of potentially making a summer bid for the Australian.

The Record reported that the Saints have been scouting the 25-year-old and had representatives in attendance for Sunday’s title-clinching 5-0 victory over Rangers where Rogic was simply superb.

Southampton currently find themselves in a very precarious position in the Premier League and it appears that whether they stay up or not is likely to decide whether the Saints follow up their interest with a bid for Rogic.

But with the Record adding that Rogic is out of contract at the end of next season, it would certainly appear that the attacking midfielder could do a good job of backing Celtic into a corner if he does not want to sign a new deal at Parkhead.

It remains to be seen what Rogic makes of the links with the St Mary’s outfit, but given the struggles that they have endured this term, it could certainly be argued that it would be a real kick in the teeth if he decides that he wants to follow the same path that tempted Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster away in the past.

Before this season, losing Rogic to a club like Southampton may not have seemed a crazy suggestion. Rogic has been a fairly peripheral figure under Brendan Rodgers – his injury record has seen Rodgers manage his minutes closely – and the Saints ended last season eighth in the Premier League having reached the League Cup final and yet, still dismissed their manager with the fans often slamming the brand of football on show.

In many ways, the sacking was a statement in itself as finishing eighth in the league and reaching a major final would have been an achievement that Saints fans would have dreamed of less than a decade ago when they began a campaign in League One on -10 points.

However, the progress has not continued this season and the club now find themselves three games away from the Championship. Relegation would surely end any hopes of signing Rogic this summer, but even if they manage to stay up, that stability in adversity that they had been famous for in recent years appears to have gone.

Southampton appear to be some way off being the team that looked to be a step forward for van Dijk, Wanyama and Forster. If Rogic decides to make the same move this summer therefore, alarm bells need to be ringing at Celtic Park.