A report in Saudi Arabia has hinted strongly at a move from Brendan Rodgers to take Celtic captain Callum McGregor.
The rumour first emerged in January that Rodgers wants to sign McGregor for Al-Qadsiah, his new oil-backed club in the Saudi Pro League.
The Parkhead skipper stayed put, but things came back into focus a few months later when McGregor refused to rule out a summer exit in an interview.
There’s no questioning the 33-year-old’s loyalty to Celtic, but it now appears that he will have a big-money offer on the table from the Middle East, courtesy of his ex-boss.
What are your thoughts on Callum McGregor’s strong comments on his Celtic future?
Brendan Rodgers ‘requests’ experienced foreign midfielder for Al-Qadsiah
According to Al-Riyadiyah via the Daily Record, Rodgers has requested an ‘experienced foreign midfielder’ to bolster his squad for the summer transfer window.
No prizes for guessing who that report hints at.
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McGregor was almost Rodgers-esque in his comments back in April, in which he challenged the club to match his ambition.
He said: “For me, I want to be here, that’s obvious — but it has to match up with the club, 100 per cent. They need to be the same, just as I need to be too.
“But my stance on it – and I’ve told everyone this – is that I want to be here. That’s where I am. If the club don’t want me to be here then I won’t be here, it’s as simple as that.
“As long as the club want me here and as long as the club’s ambition matches my own, in terms of playing at the highest level.
“We have to continue to push and be as good as we can possibly be. I don’t want to sit here and be a Celtic captain who’s not winning anything. And I’ve been honest with everyone in that conversation.
“The people inside the club know it. If we’re not going to be the best version of Celtic then I don’t want to be the guy who’s not winning any trophies. That’s not me and not who I am.”
After 12 years, 576 appearances and 26 trophies, it certainly would be a significant decision if McGregor was to depart — for now, he looks to be captaining the team into next season, as usual.”
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Brendan Rodgers’ spell in Saudi Arabia so far
Rodgers was unveiled by Al-Qadsiah in December, being quizzed on his infamous ‘Honda Civic’ Celtic comments at his unveiling.
However, he took the club by storm, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on an extraordinary unbeaten run which saw them emerge as unlikely title contenders.
The run lasted 17 games before eventually being put to an end by Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry’s Al-Ettifaq.
Whilst they aren’t under the ownership of the Saudi Public Investment Fund like the nation’s major four clubs, Qadsiah are owned and funded by Aramco, the nation’s biggest oil company.
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