BRENDAN Rodgers, the Celtic manager, has made clear no first-team player would be leaving the club on deadline day despite Chelsea’s ongoing interest in Craig Gordon.
Rodgers revealed that he expects only Nadir Ciftci to possibly move on, with Efe Ambrose, Kris Commons and Nir Bitton all likely to stay at the club barring any unexpected late developments.
The Northern Irishman also does not foresee adding to his squad before the window closes at midnight.
Rodgers expressed his surprise at news of an improved offer for Gordon but categorically refuted any notion that his goalkeeper could leave, “guaranteeing” Gordon would be in the Celtic team to face Aberdeen tomorrow night.
“If there’s another bid you know more than me,” he said. “For me it’s always been clear. Craig will be here, he will be in goal on Wednesday night and we want to get him signed up on a new deal, simple as that.
“There are two parts to it. You can only speak to someone if another club meets a valuation of what a player is maybe worth.
“You don’t willy-nilly let a player go and talk to them. It doesn’t work like that. But the stance is the same. We don’t want to lose him.
“I’ve been brought in to lead the club, look after the football side, and help manage the club. So my job is to protect the club and to build the best team I possibly can and that means keeping Craig Gordon. Craig will be in goal on Wednesday night, I guarantee you.”
Rodgers does not expect much in the way of late transfer activity. “We’re in total control. There’s no drama. I don’t think we’ll get in what we want to get in. But we’ve got a great squad of players here.
“Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to strengthen in January. I want to improve the team but only when the right players become available and I just don’t think it’s going to be.”
A permanent transfer for the increasingly impressive Patrick Roberts also looks unlikely when his loan agreement expires in the summer.
“He’ll go back – he’s a Manchester City player. That’s the bottom line,” Rodgers said.
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